Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2009, Page 198

196 CATCH HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION OF WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN OF THE FAROE ISLANDS
Fig. 6. The annual distribution of white-sided dolphins
(Lagenorhynchus acutus) taken in the Faroe Islands in
the period 1872-2009. N = 8,796 white-sided dolphins;
148 pods.
Fig. 7. The percental annual catch distribution of
white-sided dolphin pods, Lagenorhynchus acutus
(1872-2009; N = 8,796 whales; 148 pods) compared
with bottlenose whale pods, Hyperoodon ampullatus
(1584-2009; N = 745 whales; 347 pods) and long-
finned pilot whale pods, G/obicephala melas (1584-
2009; N = 256,652 whales; 1,883 pods), all taken in the
Faroe Islands.
iBTalnn ■Obitfvd oftitioft ]
changed in the most recent years, which also
are the years with most catches and/or most
reports (Fig. 3). But it may also be influenced
by the fact that most white-sided dolphins
were observed south of the Faroes (Fig. 1).
Annual distribution
Except March and December, drive fishery
for white-sided dolphins has occurred in all
months with a maximum in August-Sep-
tember containing 68% of the dolphins and
66% of the pods. The frequency of drives re-
mains low from November-July with a small
peakin April indicatinga potential migration
of white-sited dolphins trough Faroese wa-
ters in the spring (Fig. 6) as also indicated by
the spring occurrence in Irish strandings
(Berrow and Rogan, 1997).
Comparíson with the whaling statistics of
other species
Adequate catch material is available for two
of the other harvested species, the long-
fmned pilot whale and the bottlenose whale.
While the pilot whale catch peaks in August
with 30%, both the bottlenose whale (59%)
and the white-sided dolphin (41%) peak in
September. The white-sided dolphin and the
bottlenose whale both show a shorter sea-
son in September than the pilot whale with
a longer peak ranging from July to October
(Fig. 7; Bloch et al„ 1996).
Fig. 8. The percental annual distribution of the
number of white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus
acutus) taken in the Faroe Islands, 1872-2009 (N =
8,796 white-sided dolphins; 148 pods) compared with
the number of white-sided dolphins observed
offshore, 1987-2003 (N = 16,924 whales; 392 pods).