Sascha K. Hooker, Robin W. Baird, and Mark A. Showell
Paper SC/49/O5 presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, September
1997.
ABSTRACT
Sixty-five records of cetacean strandings around the coast of
mainland Nova Scotia between 1991 and 1996 are reported. Ten species
are represented in the stranding records, including: Atlantic white-sided
dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus (6 events, 31 individuals); long-finned
pilot whale, Globicephala melas (5 events, 13 individuals); minke
whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata (4 events, 4 individuals); fin whale,
Balaenoptera physalus (4 events, 4 individuals); sperm whale, Physeter
macrocephalus (3 events, 4 individuals); humpback whale, Megaptera
novaeangliae (3 events, 3 individuals); right whale, Eubalaena
glacialis (1 event, 1 individual); northern bottlenose whale, Hyperoodon
ampullatus (1 event, 1 individual); harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
(1 event, 1 individual); and bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
(1 event, 1 individual). Species identification of an additional 39
individuals from 36 events could not be confirmed. Strandings occurred
year-round, with a mid- to late-summer peak in reports, due primarily
to effort. The majority of strandings (60) involved single animals;
Atlantic white-sided dolphins, long-finned pilot whales, and sperm
whales were recorded to mass strand. One hundred and twelve records
(representing 120 individuals) of cetaceans incidentally killed in
fisheries in Nova Scotia waters are also presented (based on an
observer program on larger vessels). Kills have been recorded in
bottom trawl (99 events), longline (9 events), midwater trawl (3 events)
and purse seine (1 event) fisheries. Long-finned pilot whales
(72 individuals) and Atlantic white-sided dolphins (6 individuals)
comprise the majority of incidentally caught animals.