About
Name: Harbour Porpoise, Puffer, Puffing Pig (Phocoena phocoena)
Length: 1.5 - 1.9 metres
Weight: 60 - 75 kg, males being smaller
Location: Coasts of North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia
Conservation status: Least Concern
Diet: Fish, squid, crustaceans
Appearance: Dark grey back, lighter grey sides, white underside
How do Harbour Porpoises feed?
In shallow waters, Harbour Porpoises forage near the bottom; in deeper waters, they stay mid-range. Typically solo foragers, they sometimes hunt in small groups. Dives usually last about a minute but can extend up to 5 minutes, with the deepest recorded dive at 220 metres. They use small spade-shaped teeth to catch prey, which is swallowed whole, and echolocation to find food in murky waters.
Are Harbour Porpoises social?
Harbour Porpoises are generally solitary but can be seen in groups (shoals) of up to 5 members.
How fast do Harbour Porpoises move?
They can reach speeds of up to 25 km per hour.
What are Harbour Porpoise birthing rituals like?
Females mature sexually at 3 or 4 years and can give birth annually for several years. They can be pregnant and lactating simultaneously. Mating involves multiple partners, with a gestation period of just over 10 months. Calves are born in early summer, measuring 65-85 cm and weighing 6.5 - 10 kg, and are weaned after 8-12 months.
How long do Harbour Porpoises live?
They live about 15 years in the wild.
How many Harbour Porpoises are there today?
The global population is estimated at around 700,000 individuals.
Do Harbour Porpoises have any natural predators?
They are hunted by sharks, killer whales, and occasionally gray seals. Bottlenose dolphins sometimes attack and kill them without eating them.
7 Pleasing Harbour Porpoise Facts
- One of the smallest marine mammals.
- Stays close to coasts and estuaries, making them familiar to people, though they are shy and not approachable like dolphins.
- Can travel far up rivers, sometimes seen hundreds of kilometers inland.
- Four known distinct populations:
- Phocoena phocoena phocoena - North Atlantic, West Africa
- P.P. relicta - Sea of Azov, Black Sea
- P.P. (unnamed) - Northwest Pacific
- P.P. vomerina - Northeast Pacific
- The word “porpoise” comes from Medieval Latin "porcopiscus," combining "porcus" (pig) and "piscus" (fish).
- Unlike dolphins, they have blunt snouts and a streamlined forehead.
- During mating season, a male’s testes can enlarge to about 5% of his total weight.
Best Deals
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr - 01 May 2026$ 3.950
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May - 08 May 2026$ 3.950
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 3.100
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May - 05 Jun 2026$ 4.000
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun - 12 Jun 2026$ 4.500
Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
05 Jun - 13 Jun 2026$ 2.800
Related Trips
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
24 Apr 2026 - 01 May 2026 
8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
Alpine Peaks of Spitsbergen, Ski & Sail
01 May 2026 - 08 May 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 3.950 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice Edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
27 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen - Arctic Spring , Hike & Sail
29 May 2026 - 05 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.000 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
05 Jun 2026 - 12 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Akureyri
Arctic Ocean - Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding
05 Jun 2026 - 13 Jun 2026 9 Days / 8 Nights
From $ 2.800 per person
The Arctic
Aberdeen
Arctic Ocean - Fair Isle, Jan Mayen, Ice edge, Spitsbergen, Birding - Summer Solstice
12 Jun 2026 - 21 Jun 2026 10 Days / 9 Nights
From $ 3.100 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Into the pack ice - Polar Bear Special
12 Jun 2026 - 19 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife
13 Jun 2026 - 20 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Basecamp – Summer Solstice - Free Kayaking, Hiking, Photo Workshop, Diving (supplemented)
19 Jun 2026 - 26 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
20 Jun 2026 - 27 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
The Arctic
Longyearbyen
North Spitsbergen Explorer - Versatile landscapes, sea ice & wildlife - Summer Solstice
21 Jun 2026 - 28 Jun 2026 8 Days / 7 Nights
From $ 4.500 per person
Blog
Blog
Birding Opportunities Abound in Spitsbergen
Seabirds are the most prevalent type of bird in Spitsbergen. Experts have estimated that there are 164 bird species that have been found throughout Spitsbergen at various points during recent history, but only 30 of them are known to turn to the Svalbard Islands as their primary breeding spot.
Blog
Around Spitsbergen vs. North Spitsbergen
Svalbard, particularly Spitsbergen, was the first polar expedition cruise destination. It's no surprise that there are numerous trip programs available in this region. Among the most unique are the Around Spitsbergen and North Spitsbergen cruises.
Blog
Inside the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Literature, cinema, and even video games often present us with various global disaster scenarios. These typically involve devastating wars, catastrophic natural events, or widespread pandemics that leave survivors scavenging for food and supplies amidst hordes of zombies.
Blog
Solargraphy & Pin Hole photography in the Arctic
Blog
Polar Bears and Pack Ice: 22 Pics from North Spitsbergen
Last month, we explored one of the premier Arctic cruise destinations in our North Spitsbergen blog. That post not only detailed our itinerary in this breathtaking region but also highlighted some of the stunning locations where you might encounter polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, and the mesmerizing ice formations of the far north.
Blog
Puffins: Clown Birds of the Atlantic
Puffins are part of a family of 22 seabird species known as auks, which are pigeon-sized birds that thrive on a diet of small fish and crustaceans.
Blog
What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen?
We’ve previously discussed our north Spitsbergen journeys and Spitsbergen circumnavigations, but the eastern parts of this incredible island have not received the attention they deserve. Despite the name, our east Spitsbergen voyages explore much more than just the eastern side of Spitsbergen.
Blog
The Pack Ice and Polar Bears of North Spitsbergen
The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is renowned for being one of the prime locations to observe polar bears. The largest island in this region, Spitsbergen, not only offers sightings of these majestic Arctic creatures but also provides a unique opportunity to experience the phenomenon of pack ice.
Blog
Seizing the Season: Spitsbergen’s Late Spring, Early Summer
Most Arctic expedition cruises can be categorized into two main types: those that operate during the autumn and winter, focusing on the northern lights, and those that sail during the high season (mid to late summer), concentrating on a broader range of experiences.
Blog
Svalbard’s Texas Bar
Texas Bar is one of the historic areas we visit on certain Svalbard trips, and it always proves to be a cherished landing site among both our guides and guests. This might be surprising, however, given that its name can be a bit misleading.
Blog
Spitsbergen: Alkefjellet magic
If they knew their way home, why not follow them? Equipped with GPS and compass, we approached the cliffs by zodiac. First, we heard the noise from the colony – the distinct calls of guillemots, kittiwakes, and Glaucous gulls. Then the cliffs gradually emerged from the mist.
Blog
Polar Bear Sets Impressive New Diving Record
According to polar bear experts Rinie van Meurs and Dr. Ian Stirling, the new record for polar bear diving is an astounding three minutes and 10 seconds. Unless this particular polar bear has an unusually large lung capacity, we can now safely assume that these creatures have the ability to remain underwater for an extended period of time.
Blog
Polar bear feast
The polar bear was relishing his meal; the snow and his face were turning red from the blood. As we observed him eating, our own stomachs began to grumble. It was time for lunch.
Blog
“The polar bear will still be there”
For several hours, we had been navigating the pack ice in search of polar bears. Despite numerous binoculars scanning the ice, no bears were visible, and only a few tracks were found. This suggested we might be in an area with fewer bears. Later that morning, we decided to head a few miles east, suspecting a higher bear population there.
Blog
Arctic Icon: 10 Facts about the Polar Bear
Polar bears are to the Arctic what penguins are to Antarctica.
Blog
11 Seals You May See in Antarctica or the Arctic
1. Weddell seals – These seals are known for their calm demeanor and spend most of their lives beneath the Antarctic ice. Although they need to come up for air, they can remain underwater for up to 45 minutes. Weddell seals can dive to depths of 610 meters (2,000 feet) in search of food. These vocal animals usually have one pup annually and can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) and weigh 544 kg (1,200 lbs).
Blog
Polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen
I watch the sea ice from the bridge of a ship in one of the fjords of Spitsbergen, an archipelago north of Norway. I observe a perfectly adapted animal moving on the ice, the results of hundreds of thousands of years of ecological fine-tuning. Snowshoe-sized paws distribute weight, fur handles the cold and sunlight to perfection, and an incredible sense of smell samples this monochromatic realm.
Blog
Eight Engaging Reindeer Facts
When we think about reindeer, we might also think of Saami herders or the holidays or teams of these beloved Arctic animals pulling a bell-covered sleigh across the nighttime sky. Only the first of these options, however, is something you're likely to encounter on an Arctic expedition cruise - and that's only in Northern Norway.
Blog
Svalbard a Disneyland for geologists
Svalbard is situated in the north-western corner of the Eurasian plate. Historically, Svalbard was part of a vast continent that included North America, Greenland, and Eurasia. At one point, both Northeast Greenland and Svalbard were submerged under the ocean before resurfacing.
Blog
Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals
Each of our Arctic regions offers its own distinct and unforgettable features: Greenland boasts mountainous shorelines and record-setting fjords, Northern Norway is renowned for the aurora borealis and historic masted schooners, and Svalbard (especially Spitsbergen) is where you're most likely to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife.