The Stranding program

Persistent organic pollutants occur in Norwegian Arctic waters despite few local sources. Due to high trophic positions, thick blubber layers and long lifespans, marine mammals accumulate high levels of chemicals. Since 2015, we have sampled dead stranded marine mammals all over Norway, to be used as indicators of marine ecosystems' health. Chemical pollution (including persistent organic pollutants, POPs) may cause adverse health effects in whales, including immunosuppression and reproductive impairment. POP-induced reproductive toxicity is the leading hypothesis for the declining whale and dolphin populations in European waters. However, research on levels and effects of marine pollution in whales in Norway has been scarce to date.

 

A recent project (2018-2021), funded by Klima-og miljødepartementet (Arktisk 2030), aimed at measuring chemical pollution in stranded Norwegian whales. Obtaining tissues from dead cetaceans offers the possibility to quantify contaminant concentrations. In addition, doing a full screening of these animals allows for identification of emerging contaminants such as unregulated pesticides, new brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated substances and chlorinated paraffins. As part of this project, Norwegian Orca Survey coordinated sample collection from 10 different species all over Norway, marking the very first systematic effort put into sampling stranded cetaceans in Norway.  Members of the general public were of immense help, as many people assisted with sampling in remote locations. This project was a collaboration with the University of Oslo and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Findings will provide novel baseline knowledge available to the working groups of the Arctic Council and to be used for further international contaminant regulation work of REACH and the Stockholm Convention.