Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)       Northwest Atlantic population: Special Concern The Harbour Porpoise is the smallest cetacean in the St. Lawrence.   Years ago, thousands of porpoises used to die after being accidentally trapped in fishing nets. Along the east coast of the United States and in the Bay of Fundy, the problem even became so severe that it was feared these populations would not survive!   Today, porpoises still sometimes get trapped by mistake. Moreover, this species requires fairly exacting conditions to reproduce. This being said, it is not known how many harbour porpoises inhabit the St. Lawrence today, so it is difficult to assess the true status of their population. Net fishing activities have been reduced everywhere in the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic, which led to this population’s designation being downgraded in 2003 from “threatened” to “of special concern.”