vaquita

New Rules, Fishing & Conservation

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Divers release a seal from fishing gear. Getting entangled in active or abandoned fishing gear often leads to injury or death in marine mammals. NOAA Marine Debris Program/Flickr

Thanks to the salt folks at National Public Radio (USA) for this news on a rule change that could do for all marine mammals what has already been done for dolphins:

The vaquita is a small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California, in Mexico. Today, the species is critically endangered, with less than 60 animals left in the wild, thanks to fishing nets to catch fish and shrimp for sale in Mexico and America. The animal is an accidental victim of the fishing industry, as are many other marine mammals. Continue reading →

Extinction By Accident

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Vaquitas are considered the smallest and most endangered cetacean in the world. Credit: Paula Olson/Wiki Commons

Vaquitas are considered the smallest and most endangered cetacean in the world. Credit: Paula Olson/Wiki Commons

The world’s most endangered marine mammal is a small porpoise called the vaquita — Spanish for little cow. The vaquita has been under threat for years, but now the poaching of a rare fish may be driving the tiny Mexican porpoise to extinction.Scientists estimate that fewer than 100 vaquita porpoise exist today, all of them in the upper Gulf of California. Vaquitas are small porpoises with big eyes and a permanent grin. None have ever survived in captivity. Poachers are killing the vaquita, but they are actually targeting another endangered fish, the totoaba.

Continue reading →