Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise

FAST FACT

Scientific Name:
Neophocaena phocaenoides

IUCN Conservation Status
(Year Published):
Vulnerable (2012)

Estimated Wild Population:
Unknown

Around 200 in Hong Kong and adjacent waters.

Around 1,300 in coastal waters of Bangladesh.

Life span:
30 years old at maximum

Distribution:
Coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific

Nicknamed as the "sea-pig", the finless porpoise looks round and chubby. They are grey in color and beak-less. The most distinct feature of the finless porpoise is that it lacks a dorsal fin. Instead, they have a wide (about 48 to 120mm wide) dorsal groove that begins just ahead of mid-back and extends to the tailstock.

Newborn calves are typically 65 to 85 cm in length, and can grow to as much as 200cm (average: 150-170cm) in length. Finless porpoises are usually found singly or in groups of up to about 10 individuals. The most common and numerically important prey species is the cephalopod, followed by the lion-head fish and the tiger-tooth croaker.

Finless porpoises can be found in the southern and eastern waters of Hong Kong. We can sometimes find them in areas between the southern side of Lantau Island and Lamma Island. It is estimated that there are about 200 finless porpoises in the Pearl River Estuary (including Hong Kong). However, this could probably be an underestimate as finless porpoises have no dorsal fin and are relatively shy. Also, they seldom approach boats or exhibit aerial behavior. Hence, they are very difficult to spot compared to Chinese White Dolphins.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Indicator of the Ocean's Health

The conservation status of finless porpoises and Chinese white dolphins is a great indicator to assess the general health of Hong Kong's marine ecology, as both species reside in Hong Kong waters, in the heart of Hong Kong's intensive urban development. Their population, distributions, behaviours and survivorship provide valuable insights into the impacts of human activities on marine life, and the threats brought about by marine pollution and fishery equipment. Like other harbour porpoises and dolphins, finless porpoises are the apex predators in the food chain. They play a critical role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecology by controlling the number of other marine lives such as fishes and squids.

THREATS

Estimated Wild Population:
Unknown.

Around 200 in Hong Kong and adjacent waters.

Around 1,300 in coastal waters of Bangladesh.

IUCN Red list of Threatened Species:

Vulnerable


Fishing net entanglement Finless porpoises can be entangled and killed by fishing nets or gears abandoned in the sea. We also found fishing hooks in their stomach, which demonstrated the adverse impacts of abandoning fishing gears in the sea on their well-being.	Habitat loss and disturbance The habitats of finless porpoises is diminishing due to human activities and coastal development.	Marine traffic and pollution Heavy marine traffic would affect the well-being of finless porpoise. We have found traumatized finless porpoises suspected to be injured by propellers. Marine pollution is also harmful to their health.

WHAT OPCFHK IS DOING

Cetacean Stranding Response Team

About
Since 2006, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) has been collaborating with Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) to investigate cetacean stranding cases in Hong Kong, while most cases involve finless porpoises and Chinese white dolphins.

Objectives
Samples collected from the stranded cetaceans provide us with important information about local cetacean, including age, sex, causes of death and accumulated organic pollutants, which enabled conservationists to better conserve the animals and their habitats.

Funding finless porpoise conservation projects

The Foundation has been funding finless porpoise research and conservation projects in Asia, such as studying the species’ population structure in the Pearl River Estuary, Japan and Malaysia.

GET INVOVLED


Report stranding cases If you encounter a stranding cetacean, regardless of whether the animal is dead or alive, please call 1823 to inform AFCD and provide your name, contact number and the following information: Date and time of discovery and the location Status of the stranded cetacean (alive, slightly or badly decomposed, etc.) Length of stranded cetacean and characteristics (e.g. any dorsal fins/ obvious rostrum, etc.)	Funding Research and Conservation Project Together we make a difference! Your donations are crucial to help us fund more conservation projects and save more species. We need your help to sustain our efforts to conserve wildlife. Donate to support the OPCFHK’s conservation effort across Asia now!
Be a responsible dolphin watcher Irresponsible or unregulated dolphin watching activities may cause disturbances and harassment to the animals in the wild. For example, some vessels would chase dolphins with high speed or intercept the course of dolphins, which increases the chance of collision or separating groups or mother and child. Please choose responsible and experienced dolphin-watching agencies and read and follow the code of conduct for dolphin watching before the tours.	Cherish our ocean To protect cetaceans, we must protect their habitat as well so that they can live in a safe and healthy environment. When you engage in coastal or water sports and activities, like boat trips, sunbathing and scuba diving, please avoid using shampoo and shower gels on the boat, to avoid untreated chemicals entering the sea and polluting the marine environment. More importantly, please do not litter on the beach and in the sea. As for fishermen and fishing enthusiasts, please dispose used fishnets and other fishery gears properly and do not abandon them in the sea.

Join Friends of the Foundation Other than establishing the Cetacean Stranding Response Team, we strive to promote Asian cetacean conservation through scientific research, community education, as well as symposium and workshops. As a charitable trust, the Foundation needs your support. Ekin Cheng has joined the Friends of the Foundation, and so can you! Please support our conservation work by making a monthly or one-off donation. Join now!