RECENT SIGHTINGS OF HARBOR PORPOISES, PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA, NEAR POINT BARROW, ALASKA

Harbour Porpoises occur regularly in the north Pacific Ocean and the B ering Sea and occasionally in the Chukchi Sea during the ice-free mont hs. Point Barrow, Alaska is considered to be near the northern limit o f distribution for this species. We have obtained nine records from th e vicinity of Point Barrow between 1985 and 1991. Harbour Porpoises we re found entangled in subsistence fishing nets, seen live or found dea d on the beach. These records indicate a regular use of the northeaste rn Chukchi Sea and extreme western Beaufort Sea. The reasons for their occurrence near Point Barrow are unknown but the relative abundance o f fish in coastal arctic lagoons may attract Harbour Popoises northwar d.