Assessment of the bycatch level for the Black Sea harbour porpoise in the light of new data on population abundance
Journal: Frontiers in Marine Science
Year: 2023

Incidental catch in fishing gear (often known as bycatch) is a major mortality factor for the Black Sea harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena relicta ), an endemic subspecies listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List. The primary gear, responsible for porpoise bycatch in the Black Sea are bottom gillnets and trammel nets targeting turbot ( Scophthalmus spp.), the most valuable commercial fish species in the Black Sea. From 2019 to 2021, a study was conducted in Bulgaria, Romania, Türkiye and Ukra