A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FINLESS PORPOISE, NEOPHOCAENA PHOCAENOIDES, IN JAPANESE WATERS

Neophocaena phocaenoides

“…comm. ), Indon esia (Rudolph et al 1997;Tas'an and Leatherwood 1984 ;van Bemmel 1939), Vietnam (Smith et al 1997(Smith et al , 2003, China (Gao 1991;Jeffers on and Braulik 1999;Liu et al 1999;Pars ons and Wang 1998;Wang 1984aWang , 1985Wang , 1990Zhou et al 1995Zhou et al , 1998, Taiwan (Yang 1976;Zhou et al 199 5), Korea (Howell 192 7;Kim and Huh 1995;Park et al 2002), and Japan (Kasuya and Kureha 1979;Mizue et al 1965;Nishiwaki 1972;Shirakihara et al 1992aShirakihara et al , 1992bShirakihara et al , 1994Yosh ida et al 1997Yosh ida et al , 1998.…”

“…In Japanese waters, finless porpoises are taken incidentally in various fisheries (Miyazaki 1983;Mizue et al 1965;Shirakihara et al 1992b;Tobayama et al 1990). Between 1970 were reported to have been taken in gillnets, 30 in set nets, 13 in seine nets, 5 in drag nets, 1 in a longline, and 2 in other types of fishing gear (Tobayama et al 1990).…”

“…Between 1970 were reported to have been taken in gillnets, 30 in set nets, 13 in seine nets, 5 in drag nets, 1 in a longline, and 2 in other types of fishing gear (Tobayama et al 1990). Shirakihara et al (1992b) mentioned 58 taken in bottom gillnets, 17 in surface gillnets, 7 in trap nets, 1 in a trawl net, and 1 in discarded netting. Japan has reported annual takes to the International Whaling Commission's Small Cetacean Subcommittee (International Whaling Commission 2001).…”

Finless porpoise bycatch in Ariake Sound and Tachibana Bay, Japan

“…The fisheries are legal, and are conducted with permission of the prefectural governors. Fishermen are well acquainted with Neophocaena asiaeorientalis, and can distinguish them from other small cetaceans (K. Shirakihara et al 1992).…”

Effects of bycatch on the population viability of the narrow-ridged finless porpoises in Ariake Sound and Tachibana Bay, Japan

“…The porpoise population in Ariake Sound and Tachibana Bay (32°34' N, 130°10' E) is the southernmost of 5 populations in Japan, identified by mitochondrial DNA variability (Yoshida et al 2001, Yoshida 2002. These waters are located in western Kyu shu, and most of them have topographical features that are favorable for the porpoises: shallow depth (< 50 m) and the predominance of non-rocky bottoms (Shirakihara et al 1992). Ariake Sound has a rich biodiversity and is a fertile fishing ground.…”