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Vanishing Point: The Beleaguered Vaquita Porpoise

Vanishing Point: The Beleaguered Vaquita Porpoise

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on November 29, 2014

Of all the beautiful creatures that reside in the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez), one of the more enchanting standouts is the vaquita porpoise. But they might not always be a highlight of this region, rich in biodiversity, as the vaquita porpoise is critically endangered. Because of its small range and elusive nature many people are not even aware that it is out there, much less that it needs help.

The smallest of the cetaceans, the vaquita is less than 5 feet long and weighs about 110 pounds. It is characterized by dark rings around its eyes and the dark outline of its mouth, which give it a distinctively cute face. Like most dolphin and porpoise species, it shows little fear of humans in favor of a more curious, friendly persona.

The porpoise has a very small range, being found only in the Gulf of California. The species was not even discovered until 1958; at that time there were believed to be many hundreds of individuals. Today, there are less than 200. This precipitous decline is believed to be almost entirely due to the use of gill nets by local fishermen. The vaquitas become entangled in the nets and drown, a tragic consequence of unsustainable fishing practices that many locals are reluctant to give up.

In 2005, the Mexican government created a refuge that covers about half of the vaquita porpoise’s range and banned commercial fishing in this area. Programs were instituted to compensate fishermen for loss of income and offer them alternative means of supporting themselves, but these efforts have been met with resistance.

The economic reality for local fishermen is that they can earn many times their traditional income by participating in the illegal gill netting of the totoaba fish, which occupies the same waters as the vaquita. The totoaba is also endangered, but its dried swim bladder is prized as a medicine in China, and the value of the smuggled product is simply too high for fishermen to resist. The vaquita porpoises are subsequently collateral damage as they are snared in the nets.

Mexico has formed the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA) and is working with experts around the world to find a way to save the porpoise. The best solution seems to be to expand the area in which commercial fishing is banned and strictly enforce the ban. Whether the will and the resources to carry out this action are present is unclear. Take a look at this video highlighting the plight of the vaquita porpoise, and organizations you can contact if you would like to lend a hand in saving this precious marine species.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro