Galicia has become one of the last strongholds of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Spain.

Galicia has become one of the last strongholds of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in Spain. The toñina, as it is known on the Galician coast, is sighted, especially in the Rías Baixas and northern Portugal. Although it is not easy. The population of the smallest cetacean in the North Atlantic has regressed, so it needs specific measures for its conservation.  

In other areas of Spain its decline is even more pronounced. In the Mediterranean it has been extinct for centuries. In the case of the Cantabrian Sea, its presence is sporadic, while in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Strait of Gibraltar only some specimens have been observed occasionally.

In northern Europe, porpoises have more stable populations and can be found in the British Isles, the English Channel, the North Sea, the coasts of Norway and the entrance to the Baltic Sea.

This small cetacean lives near the coast. It differs from dolphins by the absence of a snout and its size, which rarely exceeds two meters in length. Its dorsal fin is also small and triangular. Another unique characteristic is found in their teeth, spatulate in shape, a unique case among cetaceans in which they are usually conical.

Specimens in the Northeast Atlantic usually base their diet on horse mackerel, pout or blue whiting, among other fish. They can be over 20 years of age, but only 5% live beyond the age of 12.

Several factors threaten their European populations. The harbour porpoise is accidentally caught in various fishing gears. In addition, it has also been affected by the degradation of coastal ecosystems and pollution, as well as underwater noise and other impacts such as collisions with boats.

Various initiatives have worked to improve knowledge of the species and promote its conservation, including projects that have the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation. 

Within the framework of the LIFE IP INTEMARES project, actions will also be promoted to contribute to their protection. Specifically, a specific conservation plan for porpoises will be drawn up with the participation of technicians from autonomous communities and experts in this species.

Other measures promoted to improve the situation of cetaceans will also benefit porpoises, including actions to mitigate underwater noise and reduce collisions with maritime traffic, among others.

The largest marine conservation project

LIFE IP INTEMARES, the largest marine environment conservation project in Europe, aims to achieve a network of marine areas of the Natura 2000 Network, managed effectively, with the active participation of the sectors involved and with research as basic tools for decision-making. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation, which also acts as a partner through the General Directorate of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea.

The Spanish Institute of Oceanography, WWF-Spain, SEO/BirdLife and the Spanish Fisheries Confederation participate as partners. It has the financial contribution of the European Union’s LIFE Programme, as well as the European Social Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, among other sources of funding.