Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise
VU

Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

UnknownVUEUVUEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_porpoise

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Harbor porpoises face significant mortality from bycatch in gillnets and other fishing gear, which remains the primary threat across their range. Underwater noise pollution from shipping, sonar, and offshore construction disrupts their echolocation abilities and communication. Chemical pollution, particularly organochlorines and heavy metals, accumulates in their tissues and affects reproduction and immune function.

Threat summary

Habitat

Harbor porpoises inhabit shallow coastal waters, typically less than 200 meters deep, including bays, estuaries, and nearshore marine environments. They prefer temperate and subarctic waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, often staying close to shore where they hunt for small schooling fish.

MARINE· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise classified as Vulnerable?
Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Harbor porpoises face significant mortality from bycatch in gillnets and other fishing gear, which remains the primary threat across their range. Underwater noise pollution from shipping, sonar, and offshore construction disrupts their echolocation abilities and communication. Chemical pollution, particularly organochlorines and heavy metals, accumulates in their tissues and affects reproduction and immune function.
Where does Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise live?
Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise?
The main threats to Afro-Iberian Harbor Porpoise are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.