Current problems and research related to interactions between marine mammals and fisheries in Norwegian coastal and adjacent waters

Abstract

Current research and provisional results on the food items and feeding rates of killer whales, minke whales, grey seals, common seals and harp seals are presented. Commercial fish species constitute the major part of the stomach contents in all five species. An average 64% of examined cod fishes from Norwegian coastal waters were infested by cod-worm. Mean infestation was 8.5 cod-worm larvae per cod. Data on the value of economic losses due to gear and catch damage by marine mammals and cod-worm infestation in Norwegian coastal and in shore waters are presented, but the total impact on fisheries can not be quantified yet.