Vaquita: The eyes of the world are on the Upper Gulf of California

In 2017, it was determined there are only around 30 surviving Vaquita Marina specimens, which is the smallest and most threatened cetacean in the world and is endemic to the Upper Gulf of California. The main cause of its death has been entanglement in nets used for illegally fishing Totoaba, a fish that is also endemic to the region and whose swim bladder reaches very high prices in the Asian market.

In light of this situation, the global interest has focused on efforts to save the Vaquita from extinction. The proposed strategy includes a ban on fishing nets in the Upper Gulf of California, strengthening and increasing surveillance in the area, removal of abandoned nets from the sea, and using fishing gear that is compatible with Vaquita conservation and promoting fishery products obtained with them. 

Pronatura Noroeste will continue to collaborate as much as possible in the available actions to try to recover this species.