Harbour Porpoise Conservation Objectives

The total national population of Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) must be maintained at, or restored to, favourable conservation status. This may be achieved through the following objectives:

Maintain the range and distribution of this species as stable within Ireland and prevent the equivalent of a 1% loss per annum, and no more than 10% loss in total below the reference range;

Maintain the population structure of this species such that reproduction, mortality and age structure are not deviating from normal and that the national population does not decrease by greater than 1% per annum or to a level 25% below the favourable reference population*;

Ensure that there is a sufficiently large habitat of suitable quality available to support the long term survival of this species; and

Ensure individual operations or activities, in combination with other operations or activities, do not cause a change in range, distribution or population structure which would result in unfavourable conditions for the future conservation interests of this species.

* current population estimate is 100,000 – 112,000 although additional survey effort is required to generate a more robust estimate