Maine during the summer months may limit the use of these areas by both harbor 

 and gray seals. Entrapment of seals and cetaceans in fishing gear is a 

 present danger and increasing threat. 



A summary of data on the reported incidental catch and strandings of cetaceans 

 in Maine waters since 1975 is compiled from Prescott and coworkers (1979) and 

 shown in table 13-9. The major causes of disturbance to cetaceans have been 

 entanglement in fishing gear and collision with boats. Of the 47 reported 

 incidences in the U.S. Atlantic waters, 13 (36%) occured in Maine waters. 



Table 13-9. Reported incidental Catch and Strandings of Cetaceans in Maine Waters 

 Since 1975 a . 



Species 



Location 



Date 



Fate and Cause 



Minke whale 1 



Unidentified 1 



Minke whale 2 



Harbor porpoise 1 



Minke whale 1 



Habor porpoise 1 



Minke whale 1 



Finback whale 1 



Harbor porpoise 1 



Humpback whale 1 



Unidentified 1 



Right whale 1 



possible ship collision 



found entangled in lobster 



trap gang 



reported by fisherman 



full-term fetus found in gill 



net 



possible ship collision 



caught in gill net 



damaged gill net 



caught in lobstering gear 

 caught in gill net 

 : trapped in stop seine, 



released 

 caught in gill net 

 cuts and slashes observed 

 on back, reported as right 

 whale 



Total 



13 



36% 



Total US Atlantic 47 



Source: Prescott et al. 1979. 



13-22 



