Detection of harbor porpoises

In the maritime area of the Słowiński National Park the hydro-acoustic porpoise monitoring system has been already operating. The monitoring is done by means of hydro-acoustic detectors, i.e. C-PODS. They are a kind of special microphones for recording the sounds the porpoises make by the process of echolocation for the recognition of space, tracking fish, or communication. With readings from the devices it will be possible to determine whether a species of porpoise occurs, whether it appears in the marine waters of SNP. There are fifteen units deployed along the Park coastline within 2 km apart and 1 nautical mile from the shore. Devices are under water at a depth of about 4-5 meters, but no deeper than 3 meters from the bottom. They are anchored at the bottom, and at sea they are marked with a yellow buoy and a beacon. The equipment will be serviced every two months – the exchange of batteries and of the memory card with recorded data.

In case of breaking of the C-POD, e.g. during the storm, and finding it on the beach, please bring your findings and contact with an employee of the Park. Each device is described as follows: "Slowinski National Park POLAND tel. + 48 59 81 17 204" and a sticker with information about the organization co-financing the project – MF EOG 2009-2014. Today, we look forward to fruitful research results, preliminary results will be announced probably in the next year.