Cetacean stranding records in the Turkish Western Black Sea coast during October 2012 - September 2013

• Main Author: Arda M. Tonay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ege University 2016-11-01
• Series: Su Ürünleri Dergisi
• Subjects: cetacea; strandings; phocoena phocoena; tursiops truncatus; delphinus delphis; black sea; yunus; karaya vuran; karadeniz
• Online Access: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/egejfas/issue/25392/268567

Between October 2012 and September 2013, a research has been conducted on marine mammal strandings on Turkish western Black Sea coast. In total, 54 stranded cetaceans were found, which included 22 bottlenose dolphins (41%), 19 harbour porpoises (35%), 11 common dolphins (20%), and 4% unidentified individuals. Most strandings were observed in May and June. Bycaught carcases were found especially in April, June and July.  The aim of the study is to collect first-hand data on the monthly stranding rates in order to understand the seasonal variation of stranding cases in a year.