The harbour porpoise is the UK's most common cetacean, but faces significant welfare threats from underwater noise pollution and incidental capture in fishing gear.
Harbour porpoise welfare is threatened by two human-caused impacts that are very different in character. Bycatch in gill nets causes acute drowning - a rapid, traumatic death. Underwater noise pollution causes chronic disruption to echolocation-dependent behaviour, potentially forcing porpoises into suboptimal foraging areas and reducing body condition over time. Pinger technology offers a practical, low-cost solution to bycatch that dramatically reduces mortality. Noise pollution mitigation requires broader policy intervention to reduce vessel speeds and construction noise in critical porpoise habitat.