Amidst the Gulf of California’s depths, the endangered Vaquita marina faces peril, despite hopeful conservation efforts
Vaquita Marina Monitoring Effort: Ensuring Survival
On June 11, Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources announced that 9 individuals of the critically endangered Vaquita marina, also known as the Gulf of California porpoise, were sighted during the annual observation campaign conducted from May 5 to 26 in the species’ refuge area. The expedition also recorded 70 acoustic detections.
The monitoring effort involved two vessels, including one operated by the NGO Sea Shepherd, in collaboration with the Mexican government under an agreement that includes removing gillnets used by fishermen in the “zero tolerance” zone, where fishing is strictly prohibited. According to Mexican authorities, the population of this species remains stable, with between 10 and 13 individuals observed in 2023.
Conservation Challenges and Initiatives
Barbara Taylor, an independent scientist leading observations during the expedition, cautioned against interpreting the lower number of observed individuals compared to the 13 seen in 2023 as indicative of a decline in the species. She pointed out the likelihood of unobserved individuals outside the current surveillance zone, which currently covers only the “Zero Tolerance Zone” (ZTC), a protected area where no fishing is permitted.
Experts highlighted the potential presence of unseen individuals and expressed optimism about the use of environmental DNA studies to assess the species’ distribution in other areas. The Vaquita marina faces critical endangerment primarily due to accidental entanglement in gillnets set for the totoaba, another endemic species of the Gulf of California. The totoaba is targeted for its swim bladder, often referred to as the “cocaine of the sea,” fetching up to $8,000 in China.
In March 2023, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) recommended suspending trade in CITES-listed species due to Mexico’s perceived lack of a comprehensive plan to combat illegal totoaba fishing.
Pritam Singh, CEO of Sea Shepherd, reiterated the organization’s commitment to working with the Mexican government to safeguard the vaquita, stressing the importance of sustainable fishing practices. Humberto Adán Peña, director of Conanp, highlighted community-focused initiatives for vaquita conservation, including training local youth in vaquita observation and promoting alternative fishing gear.
“The recovery of the vaquita depends on forging closer ties with fishermen and encouraging the adoption of fishing methods that do not harm them,” Barbara Taylor emphasized, underscoring the urgency of implementing sustainable fishing practices to protect this smallest porpoise species in the world, endemic to the northern waters of the Gulf of California and listed as endangered by Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
