Review of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) strandings around the North Sea

摘要

Young adult male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) undergo extensive nomadic movements to high latitudes. Although an oceanic species favouring deep waters, on occasions they enter the North Sea from the eastern North Atlantic. In the central andsouthern sectors they invariably strand on the shores of northern Europe. Although recorded in the region in all months of the year, most strandings occur between November and March. Records of sperm whale strandings along North Sea coasts from the thirteenth century to the present are documented with details of date, location, numbers of individuals and their lengths where known, and a list of published sources. Although historical estimates of lengths are likely to have been inaccurate, there is someevidence that the larger (16 m or greater), more mature, individuals recorded in earlier times have become scarce in the region since the mid 1980s.