Marine debris in harbour porpoises and seals from German waters

Mar Environ Res. 2017 Sep;130:77-84. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.009. Epub 2017 Jul 6. Unger B1, Herr H2, Benke H3, Böhmert M2, Burkhardt-Holm P4, Dähne M3, Hillmann M2, Wolff-Schmidt K2, Wohlsein P5, Siebert U2. Author information 1 Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany. Electronic address: Bianca.Unger@tiho-hannover.de. 2 Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstraße 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany. 3 German Oceanographic Museum, Katharinenberg 14-20, 18439 Stralsund, Germany. 4 University of Basel, Programme Man-Society-Environment, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland. 5 Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany. Abstract Records of marine debris in and attached to stranded harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were studied comprising information on 6587 carcasses collected along the German coast between 1990 and 2014, the decomposition state allowed for necropsy in 1622 cases. Marine debris items were recorded in 31 carcasses including 14 entanglements (5 harbour porpoises, 6 harbour seals, 3 grey seals) and 17 cases of ingestion (4 harbour porpoises, 10 harbour seals, 3 grey seals). Objects comprised general debris (35.1%) and fishing related debris (64.9%). Injuries associated with marine debris included lesions, suppurative ulcerative dermatitis, perforation of the digestive tract, abscessation, suppurative peritonitis and septicaemia. This study is the first investigation of marine debris findings in all three marine mammal species from German waters. It demonstrates the health impacts marine debris can have, including severe suffering and death. The results provide needed information on debris burdens in the North and Baltic Seas for implementing management directives, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Baltic Sea; Environmental impact; Fishing gear; Grey seal; Harbour porpoise; Harbour seal; Health status; North Sea; Pollutant burden; Pollution effects PMID: 28735731 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.07.009