Vaquita on the Verge of Extinction

• A recent report by the North American Environmental Commission (CEC) has criticized Mexico for failing to protect the vaquita, one of the world’s rarest marine mammals.

Alarming Numbers:

• The report estimates that only around 10 vaquitas remain in the wild, pushing the species to the edge of extinction.

Core Issue:

• Despite multiple bans, illegal gillnet fishing continues in vaquita habitat, mainly to catch the endangered totoaba fish, whose swim bladder is trafficked in international black markets.

About Vaquita

Scientific Classification:

• Common name: Vaquita

• Scientific name: Phocoena sinus

• Family: Porpoise

• Group: Cetaceans (includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises)

Physical Features:

• Smallest marine cetacean in the world

• Chunky body, rounded head, no distinct beak

• Tall and wide dorsal fin (helps distinguish it from other porpoises)

• Shy and elusive, avoids boats and human contact

• Uses echolocation (high-frequency clicks) to navigate and hunt underwater

Distribution and Habitat

Habitat Range:

• Has the smallest geographical range of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise.

Location:

• Inhabits the northern part of the Gulf of California, also called the Sea of Cortez, in Mexico.

Preferred Environment:

• Typically found in shallow coastal waters, up to 50 meters deep, especially in areas rich in fish and shrimp.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List:

• Critically Endangered

CITES:

• Listed under Appendix I (prohibiting international trade of species and their parts)

UNESCO:

• The vaquita’s habitat (Upper Gulf of California) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Danger

Major Threats

Illegal Gillnet Fishing:

• Gillnets, used by local fishers to catch totoaba, often trap vaquitas as bycatch, causing injury or drowning.

Totoaba Trade:

• Totoaba macdonaldi, also critically endangered, is illegally fished for its swim bladder, considered a delicacy and used in traditional medicine, particularly in China.

• The lucrative black market fuels the use of banned fishing practices.

Weak Law Enforcement:

• Though Mexico has banned gillnets and established marine protected areas (MPAs), law enforcement is weak, and illegal activities continue with minimal consequences.