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HARBOR PORPOISE

Phocoena phocoena

HARBOR PORPOISE GRACE MONTEREY BAY'S TRANQUIL WATERS.

Harbor porpoises have a small, robust body with a short, blunt beak and a medium-sized triangular dorsal fin.Harbor porpoises mainly eat schooling fish, like herring and mackerel. Occasionally, they will eat squid and octopus.

They are most often seen singly, in pairs, or in groups of up to 10, although there are reports of aggregations of up to 200 harbor porpoises. Most seasonal movements appear to be inshore-offshore and may be influenced by prey availability or the presence of ice-free waters.


Diet

Herring, Mackerel, Sardine, Anchovy, Squid

Population Status | Monterey

Least Concern

Legal Protection

Marine Mammal Protection Act, National Marine Protected Area Act

Threats

Biotoxin (Algal Blooms), Human Related Loss (Habitat Loss, Ocean Noise, Hunting, Food Source Loss, Climate Change, Disturbance, Entanglement, Harassment, Oil Spills, Pollution, Boat Strikes, Collisions)

Size

5’6″ft (Female)
5’2″ft (Male)

Weight

168 lb (Unisex)
134 lb (Male)


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