inclusive) from across the region. During this period, a total of 640 stranding events involving 19 species and 881individuals of both sexes and varying age groups were reported. Stranding events primarily involved single animals, although several mass strandings were recorded, the largest involving 60 Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas). The number of strandings was found to vary substantially over time and among the three provinces. In part, this is likely a reflection of differences in local network effort among regions. Most animals were found dead ashore. Entanglement in fishing gear occurred in over 10% of the incidents. Relatively more mysticetes were found dead ashore or at sea and entangled in fishing gear than expected by chance, while more odontocetes were found stranded alive than expected. Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) appear to be especially vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear. Necropsies, performed on a subsample of the stranded animals, suggest that Harbour Porpoises die significantly more often from disease than mishap, while Long-finned Pilot Whales and Atlantic White-sided Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus acutus) suffer equally from mishap and disease. Refloating was attempted for 23% of animals, with an apparent success rate of 83%, although there are no data on long-term survival. Neither sex nor age of the refloated animals was found to be an indicator of subsequent short-term survival.Key Words: cetaceans, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus, Harbour Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, Longfinned Pilot Whale, Globicephala melas, incidental catch, stranding, Maritimes, Canada.
NEMIROFF, WIMMER, DAOUST, AND MCALPINE: CETACEAN STRANDINGS 33and Lounsbury 2005). For some rare cetaceans, most of what is known about the biology of these species has been gleaned from stranded animals (e.g., Kenyon 1961). Ideally, volunteers and paid personnel are trained to respond quickly and effectively to strandings, to coordinate refloating efforts when possible, to collect information, and to provide liaison with the public. Systematic efforts are made to collect, compile, and analyze data from all stranding events. There are four principal organizations that collect stranding information and participate in refloating attempts in the three Canadian Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island):(1) the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS) in Nova Scotia, (2) the New Brunswick Museum, (3) the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station (GMWSRS) in New Brunswick; and (4) the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island. The Marine Animal Response Network of Atlantic Canada (MARNAC) is a cooperative effort among these groups and others.Data collected by stranding networks may be useful in monitoring the status, distribution, and seasonal abundance of species (e.g., Osborne and Ransom 1988;Ferrero et al. 1994; Evans and Hammond 2004; Norman et al. 2004;Maldini et al. 2005). For instance, in an analysis of 65 years of data collected from b...
