Harbor porpoises are small cetaceans occasionally held in rehabilitation and research settings. Their welfare needs and conservation status make them an important species for understanding cetacean care.
Harbor porpoise welfare in captivity is exceptionally challenging. Their extreme sensitivity to acoustic disturbance, unfamiliar environments, and handling means that even well-intentioned rehabilitation efforts carry significant mortality risk. They often refuse food and develop stereotypic behaviors rapidly in confinement. Best practice for stranded or injured harbor porpoises focuses on rapid assessment and release where medically feasible, with long-term holding used only when necessary for medical treatment. Few facilities worldwide have successfully maintained harbor porpoises long-term. Conservation priorities focus on bycatch reduction through acoustic deterrent devices (pingers) and protected areas.