Canada and U.S. Governments Join Mexico in the Race to Save the Vaquita Porpoise
- Nov. 11, 2008
- Author: Peggy Turk-Boyer, Executive Director

At a meeting in Mexicali, Baja California on October 28, 2008 the North American Committee for Environmental Cooperation announced its tri-national plan to protect the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita. Known as the North American Conservation Plan (NACAP) for Vaquita, it establishes a tri-national outlook for developing actions to protect this critically endangered porpoise, of concern to all three countries, and to support development of sustainable livelihoods for the communities of the Upper Gulf of California, the only place in the world where this porpoise is found, read on..

The objectives of the NACAP plan for Vaquita are to: 1) prevent, control and mitigate actions that threaten the porpoise; 2) Develop innovativeapproaches such as new fishing practices and technologies, trade measures, and promoting sustainable livelihoods, 3) conduct research, monitoring and evaluation of the vaquita population and the effectiveness of the NACAP program; and 4) raise awareness about the plight of the vaquita.

Scientists consider gillnets as the biggest threat to the survival of the vaquita porpoise . These nets have been used extensively by Upper Gulf fishermen since the 1970s.  In this area of strong tidal currents gill nets are ideal for catching fish (mackerel, corvina, the Gulf croaker) and even  shrimp, but  vaquita also get tangled in them and drown when they can’t surface for air.  These fisheries, especially shrimp, known locally as “pink gold,” are very important to local economies and international markets.

The vaquita is now considered the most critically endangered marine mammal in the world. The population was estimated to be around 600 in 1997, and today scientists estimate the numbers may be as low as 150. The International Committee for the Recuperation of Vaquita (CIRVA), an international group of marine mammal experts , claims that if vaquita mortality is not reduced to zero the species may go extinct.

So the race is on to save the vaquita. The Mexican government established a Biosphere Reserve in 1993 and as more was learned about the distribution of the species, a refuge near San Felipe, Baja California was established in 2005. Fishermen have agreed to take the needed steps to save vaquita and reduce gillnet fishing in these important areas.  While the government has devised a comprehensive plan to provide the region’s 800 fishermen with the needed incentives to change their livelihood or the way they fish.  

These bold actions on the part of the Mexican government and its fishing communities are to be commended. Nowhere else in the world has a buyout been tried on this scale. If we succeed in saving the vaquita, the lessons learned in our work with fishermen will be invaluable for protecting other coastal species. The Bajii or Chinese River dolphin was declared extinct at the end of 2006 when scientists found no animals in the entire Yangtze River. Pollution and fishing were the cause of this demise. Next in line are the Finless porpoise (China, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean), the Irrawaddy dolphin (Southeast Asia, South Asia), the Franciscana (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil), Hector’s dolphin (New Zealand), Commerson’s dolphin (S. America), Harbor porpoise (Baltic, Black Sea), Boto (Amazon basin), and Susu (South Asia). To reduce this threat it’s important that we learn how humans and marine mammals can co-exist in coastal habitats all over the world.

The support of U.S. and Canadian governments in this effort is key.  New fishing gear, new life styles, and the funds to do this are vital to supporting the Mexican government and fishermen in this process. Several Non-Government Organizations are also involved.  It will take a united effort to save the vaquita from extinction.

Return to the Northern Gulf of California Environmental News homepage.