¡Viva Vaquita!

Monterey Bay Chapter

In 2009, the Baiji (aka, Yangtze River Dolphin) was officially declared “functionally extinct” by the international scientists with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  In doing so, one of the oldest cetacean species on earth blinked out of existence.  Now, with population estimates between 200-245 animals, the tiny vaquita porpoise, found only in a small area in the northern Gulf of California, between the states of Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s most critically endangered marine mammal species.  In late 2009, a coalition of three nonprofit organizations, including the Monterey Bay Chapter of ACS, formed¡Viva Vaquita! in an effort to catapult the vaquita into the international spotlight and promote a healthy marine ecosystem in the northern Gulf of California.  Ultimately, the ¡Viva Vaquita! partnership aims to achieve the dual goals of saving the vaquita and providing long-term quality of life benefits to fishing communities and local residents of the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico region.

Unlike so many cases of imperiled species, the habitat of the vaquita remains clean and healthy.  The cause of their dramatic decline in numbers is attributed solely to bycatch in gillnets used to catch shrimp and fish, which kill more porpoises than are born.  The nearly-invisible gillnets trap vaquitas, and the animals drown.  If these nets can be moved out of the small area where vaquitas occur, the species will likely recover.  To this end, ¡Viva Vaquita! collaborators coordinate with the Mexican government and researchers to promote the development of alternative fishing gear that doesn’t harm vaquitas, and to reward and compensate fishermen for giving upgillnet fishing in the vaquita’s range and embarking on economically viable and more environmentally sustainable livelihoods.  The latter is achieved through various efforts, including the Mexican government’s fishing gear ‘buy-out’  and ‘rent-out’ programs, as well as small start-up loans for local business endeavors.

In addition, the ¡Viva Vaquita! project has coordinated with research efforts by the world’s authorities on vaquita population dynamics and ecology in the United States and Mexico. As a result of these and other efforts, the first reliable population estimates have been recorded.

If proactive progress is not made very soon, the story of the vaquita may follow the path of the baiji in few short years.  However, we are confident that, armed with doable solutions, a dedicated team of national and international partners, and local communities who sincerely care and who want to be a part of the solution to save the vaquita, together we can ensure a future for this tiny porpoise affectionately referred to as the “panda of the sea”.

Extinction is forever.  Visit the Monterey Bay Chapter and ¡Viva Vaquita! websites to learn how you can help.