What does this research mean for the field?

Harbour porpoise bycatch rates in the Swedish gillnet fishery are higher along the south coast than the west coast, primarily affecting the endangered Belt Sea subpopulation, with overall bycatch numbers declining due to reduced fishing effort. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate spatiotemporal patterns of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch rates across the Swedish gillnet fishery, focusing on previously unassessed south coast waters.

September 3, 2026Global Ecology and ConservationOpen Access

Spatiotemporal patterns in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the Swedish gillnet fishery

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

TSTorbjörn SäterbergSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences SKSara KönigsonSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences APAnna S.M. PerssonSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Observational study reveals elevated harbour porpoise bycatch rates along the Swedish south coast, indicating seasonal vulnerability in endangered subpopulations.

Key Points

To investigate spatiotemporal patterns of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch rates across the Swedish gillnet fishery, focusing on previously unassessed south coast waters.
Calculated bycatch rates as the number of harbour porpoises caught per net-kilometre-day in Swedish gillnet fisheries.
Evaluated seasonal and geographic trends, comparing bycatch occurrences between the Swedish west and south coasts.
Bycatch rates were higher along the southern coast than the western coast, despite presumed higher porpoise abundance in western waters.
Recorded bycatches along the southern coast took place during the second half of the year, implicating the endangered Belt Sea subpopulation rather than the critically endangered Baltic Proper subpopulation.
Total numbers of bycaught porpoises showed a declining trend over time, likely driven by overall reductions in gillnet fishing effort.

Cite This Study

Säterberg et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9935b1636c6408cfa7e2c8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04402

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

Observational study reveals elevated harbour porpoise bycatch rates along the Swedish south coast, indicating seasonal vulnerability in endangered subpopulations.

Spatiotemporal patterns in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the Swedish gillnet fishery

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Spatiotemporal patterns in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch in the Swedish gillnet fishery

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider