HARBOR PORPOISE

Phocoena phocoena

Length: 1,5–2 meters
Weight: 55–70 kilograms
Worldwide population: Unknown
Life expectancy: About 30 years

Porpoises, like dolphins, belong to the toothed whales, forming a separate family.

With their body length being only 1,5 - 2 m, they are the smallest of all whale species. Their back is dark grey in color, getting lighter towards the sides and belly. The snout is round, unlike other dolphins, and their head is relatively small.

Their diet consists primarily of various small fish, but also herring and capelin. While trying to snatch fish from the nets, they increasingly get tangled up in fishing gear and drown, which results in a serious population decline.

Porpoises are shy, rarely leap, and tend to stay away from boats and ships. Being so small, they are difficult to spot. Preferring shallow waters, they can be seen in fjords and bays, and sometimes in estuaries.

The local population is believed to be 25,000-27,000 animals. They often form large groups of up to 250 individuals.

These curious creatures are often seen in our tours.