An updated range-wide assessment of Neophocaena: Threats and priorities for research and conservation

The genus Neophocaena includes two species, the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (N. phocaenoides) and the Narrow-ridged finless porpoise (N. asiaeorientalis). The Indo-Pacific species is found in coastal waters from the Persian Gulf through south and southeast Asia to as far north as the Taiwan Strait. The Narrow-ridged finless porpoise ranges from the Taiwan Strait to the waters of northern China, Korea, and Japan. Within N. asiaeorientalis there are two subspecies, the Yangtze finless porpoise (N. a. asiaeorientalis), found in the Yangtze River and adjoining lakes in China, and the East Asian finless porpoise (N. a. sunameri), found in coastal marine waters of China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Korea, and Japan. In 2019, an international workshop was held on finless porpoise research and conservation. Participants shared that, in many regions, information on distribution, abundance and population structure is lacking or inadequate. A global assessment of research is critical to provide a basis for conservation planning. Anthropogenic activities (i.e., habitat degradation, pollution, etc.) are known threats, with fisheries bycatch the primary threat throughout the known distribution of finless porpoises. To conserve these cetaceans, research priorities include studies of abundance and distribution, habitat and ecology, fisheries-related mortality, increased public awareness, and bycatch mitigation.