Porpoise Conservation Society

International Save the Vaquita Day 2022
2022-08-20
International Save the Vaquita Day is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting etc. on hand at events around the world to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with few individuals surviving. We will have a simple message for folks about what they can do to help. Secondary goals are to gather signatures for our petitions to the Mexican government, and also to raise additional funds for future educational and research work on the vaquita. The event is designed to be fun, as well as educational, and kid-friendly!
In 2022, the event will once again take place entirely online, with a 4-hour live stream on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.

International Save the Vaquita Day 2021
2021-07-24
International Save the Vaquita Day (July 24, 2020) is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting etc. on hand at events around the world to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with only

International Save the Vaquita Day
2020-07-18
International Save the Vaquita Day (July 18, 2020) is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting etc. on hand at events around the world to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with only

Sea of Shadows (Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion)
2020-02-10 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
A looming disaster in one of the most spectacular environments on Earth sparks a rescue mission unlike any other in SEA OF SHADOWS, a riveting new documentary with the intensity of a Hollywood thriller from National Geographic Documentary Films and winner of the Sundance audience award.
When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten to destroy virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the vaquita porpoise.
SEA OF SHADOWS follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navy as they put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquitas and bring the vicious international crime syndicate to justice.
The SEA OF SHADOWS screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring the Consul General of Mexico, a porpoise-focused marine scientist, and a fisheries economist, moderated by a marine mammal scientist.
The panel:
Berenice Diaz Ceballos, Consul General for Mexico (Vancouver)
Berenice Diaz Ceballos has been Consul General for Mexico in Vancouver, Canada since 2016. She has a degree in International Relations, and over 25 years of work experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly in bilateral issues (Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa and the Middle East), and multilateral issues in the political, economic, financial, social, environmental, migration, and human rights fields.
Anna Hall, President, Porpoise Preservation Society
Dr. Anna Hall is president of the Porpoise Conservation Society. She has spent 20 years researching the harbour porpoise of British Columbia and has worked on seasonal abundance, diet, strandings, habitat use, behaviour and incidental catch. She also took part in the 2008 international expedition to find the critically endangered vaquita.
Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor, Research Associate, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Dr. Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor is Deputy Director of the Ocean Nexus Program and Research Associate at the University of British Columbia. He specializes in applied resource economics and is engaged in research and policy on human development and the Blue Economy, including artisanal and Indigenous fisheries, ecotourism, and emerging ocean sectors in developing and developed regions including Belize, Canada, Central America, East Asia, Mexico, Patagonia, the USA and West Africa. Dr. Cisneros-Montemayor has published over 60 peer-reviewed studies and book chapters, and is an active participant and advisor in international and national ocean policy.
Moderator:
Andrew Trites, Professor, Marine Mammal Research Unit (MMRU), Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Dr. Andrew Trites is a Professor and Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia. He has been studying marine mammals in the North Pacific for 40 years, and leads a research program designed to further the conservation and understanding of marine mammals, and resolve conflicts between people and marine mammals. He has served on many advisory committees and independent panels that involve marine mammals and species at risk.

27th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium
2019-11-23 09:30 - 21:30 | University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Join the University of British Columbia’s Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all. This meeting is open to students, researchers, educators, businesses and others involved with marine mammals. Anyone in one or more of these categories is welcome to attend. The event will also be broadcast live on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lAOjcEmzP2EVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 27th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium (https://youtube.com/watch?v=lAOjcEmzP2E)

Agenda available for download.

Talk: Small Cetaceans Facing Global Challenges
2019-10-04 07:00 - 20:00 | Metchosin Municipal Hall, 4450 Happy Valley Road, Metchosin, B.C., V9C 3Z3, Canada
An illustrated talk on “Porpoise Conservation — Small Cetaceans Facing Global Challenges”
There are only seven species of porpoise in the world’s oceans. Despite the nearshore habitat preference of most species, this group of marine mammals is largely overlooked by science and conservation. While there is little known of these elusive marine mammals, current knowledge indicates that almost half now have a Threatened or Endangered conservation status. Dr. Anna Hall is a local researcher and conservationist based in Metchosin who is working to change the public profiles, population trajectories and knowledge about the world’s porpoise species. She will present an overview of her global research collaborations, as well as her local work on the harbour and Dall’s porpoise of southern Vancouver Island. Dr. Hall will also present details on her new Eastern Caribbean collaboration that includes the first ever orca census and a new children’s ocean education program. Her research spans more than 25 years and she has uncovered some of the mysteries of the lives of the world’s smallest cetaceans that she will share in this presentation.
Dr. Anna Hall is a marine mammal zoologist and adjunct professor at Royal Roads University. She has lived in Metchosin since the early 1990’s and has been working on the research and conservation of porpoises for the past 25 years. She leads the Porpoise Conservation Society and is involved with research projects around the world. Her expertise is internationally recognised from her involvement in the conservation and recovery of the world’s most endangered marine mammal — the Vaquita —a warm water porpoise that is found only in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. She is also heading a new program on ocean health in the Eastern Caribbean that includes tropical dolphins, coral reefs and sustainable development.

International Save the Vaquita Day
2019-07-06
What is International Save the Vaquita Day?
International Save the Vaquita Day is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, games, music, free prizes, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting, and several life-size models of vaquitas on hand to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
What is the goal?
The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with only <30 individuals left, and declining at about 50% per year! We will have a simple message for folks about what they can do to help. Secondary goals are to gather signatures for our petitions to the Mexican government, and also to raise additional funds for future educational and research work on the vaquita. The event is designed to be fun, as well as educational, and kid-friendly!
What happened last year?
In 2018, we organized International Save the Vaquita Day (ISTV Day) on Saturday, July 7th. This event featured 34 booths and other venues at sites in southern California, various cities in the US, and all over the world. The venues included 9 aquaria and 12 museums/zoos. There were experts on hand to answer questions, educational demonstrations, seminars, children’s games and events, face-painting, passing out of brochures and coloring books, etc. At one site (Seaport Village in San Diego) there was even live music – the steel drum band Salsa Steel!
The primary goal was to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The events were all very peaceful, and respectful of the Mexican fishing culture. It is estimated that over 26,000 people were directly educated about the vaquita at the various events on ISTV Day 2018, with over 250,000 more educated through social media postings. Our website visits in the week after the event reached a record 173,476 visits!

International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise
2019-05-19
In 2002, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS) declared the third Sunday in May of each year as the “International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise” (IDBHP) in order to raise awareness of the critical situation for populations of the Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): the only species of cetacean native to the Baltic Sea.
Several studies have recently confirmed that only few of these animals can still be found in the main basin of the Baltic. This significant decline is largely due to human activities. The greatest threat posed is due to accidental by-catch through the entanglement in fishing nets. Other threats include underwater noise, over-fishing and habitat degradation (for example due to oil extraction). Urgent action is needed to save the Baltic Harbour Porpoise from extinction.
Raising public awareness plays an important role in supporting effective conservation action. The IDBHP aims to promote public support throughvarious events and exhibitions at museums and scientific institutions around the Baltic Sea. The number of institutions staging events to mark the IDBHP has grown significantly. We hope that, ultimately, the IDBHP will be observed by at least one notable institution in every country around the Baltic Sea.

26th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium
2018-11-24 09:30 - 21:30 | University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGB1m2DxToVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 26th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGB1m2DxTo)

Join the University of British Columbia’s Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all. This meeting is open to students, researchers, educators, businesses and others involved with marine mammals. Anyone in one or more of these categories is welcome to attend. The event will also be broadcast live on YouTube.
Please register on Eventbrite or email bc.symposium@oceans.ubc.ca before November 19, 2018, to indicate that you plan to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, but we need to know how many people to plan for. There will also be a social evening (6:00-9:00 pm) where beer and pizza can be purchased.
The Agenda will be distributed at the meeting. Please email bc.symposium@oceans.ubc.ca before November 17, 2018 if you would like to make a five minute presentation about your research. Longer presentations on topics of general interest are welcomed. We would also like to know if there are any issues that should be discussed by the group at large.
This event will be live-streamed to the general public via YouTube. All presentations will be recorded for posting on the Internet. Presenters can decline to have their talks posted individually after previewing them.
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at:
9:30 am on Saturday, November 24, 2018
Registration Fee:
Advanced: $0 (pre-register by Friday November 23)
Late: $5 (cash only at the door)
Live Broadcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyGB1m2DxTo

International Save the Vaquita Day
2018-07-07
The first Saturday after the 4th of July has been designated as International Save the Vaquita Day. This is intended to be an annual event with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, games, music, free prizes, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting, and several life-size models of vaquitas on hand to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The Porpoise Conservation Society is part of the Viva Vaquita Coalition, and one of many organizations around the world that will be organizing events to coincide with International Save the Vaquita Day.

World Oceans Day at Fisherman's Wharf
2018-06-10 11:00 - 16:00 | Fisherman’s Wharf, 21 Erie Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1Y4, Canada
“On Sunday, June 10, bring the family to Fisherman’s Wharf to learn all about the Salish Sea. Talk to a wide variety of research, education and conservation organizations, learn about your own impact, and find out what you can do get involved, reduce plastic pollution and #KeepOceansBlue. There will be plenty of activities for all ages!”
We will participate with our own booth to talk about porpoises in the Salish Sea (and elsewhere). Come join us!

2018 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference
2018-04-04 - 2018-04-06 | Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
The Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference is the largest most comprehensive event of its kind in the region. The purpose of the conference is to assemble scientists, First Nations and tribal government representatives, resource managers, community and business leaders, policy makers, educators, and students to present the latest scientific research on the state of the ecosystem, and to guide future actions for protecting and restoring the Salish Sea ecosystem.
The Porpoise Conservation Society is partnering with Pacific Mammal Research in Washington on a photo ID study of harbour porpoise. We will be presenting a poster presentation on that topic at the conference.

25th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium
2017-11-25 | University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Join the University of British Columbia’s Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all. This meeting is open to students, researchers, educators, businesses and others involved with marine mammals. Anyone in one or more of these categories is welcome to attend. The event will also be broadcast live on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtoEaTNkAfYVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 25th Annual B.C. Marine Mammal Symposium (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtoEaTNkAfY)

Porpoise Conservation Society president Dr. Anna Hall will talk about her trip to Mexico and VaquitaCPR’s one-month mission to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise from extinction.

International Save the Vaquita Day 2017
2017-07-08 08:00 - 17:00
The first Saturday after the 4th of July has been designated as International Save the Vaquita Day. This is intended to be an annual event with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There are booths, games, music, free prizes, educational brochures, inspirational talks, face painting, and several life-size models of vaquitas on hand to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.

World Oceans Day Celebration
2017-06-11 11:00 - 16:00 | Fisherman’s Wharf, 21 Erie Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8V 1Y4, Canada
The goal of this annual event is to educate the public about the diversity and importance of marine life in the Salish Sea, and to raise funds to support local marine conservation efforts.
This year, we are encouraging solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future.

VSB Sustainability Conference
2017-05-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Eric Hamber Secondary School, 5025 Willow St, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3S1, Canada
The VSB will be hosting its fifth district-wide Sustainability Conference this year on May 5th, 2017 at Eric Hamber Secondary. The day will include keynote speakers, two workshops sessions, a zero-waste lunch, a NGO Fair and Networking & School Planning sessions.
The Conference welcomes students, teachers, administrators, and PAC members from all 18 Vancouver secondary schools, as well as board staff and trustees, out-of-district attendees, and elementary school teachers.
Building upon the successes of past conferences, VSBSC 2017 hopes to:
Celebrate sustainability inside and outside of the VSB.
Showcasing environmental action can inspire even more action, and we want to open the eyes of our community to just how much potential is buzzing around them.
Empower youth with the skills and networks needed to execute their ideas.
In hopes that this will enable students to tackle projects with a strong foundation, built by like-minded people before them.
We hope to build bridges between youth, organizations, and existing sustainability expertise, in order to strengthen them all through their bonds.
Facilitate both inter- and intra-school discussion on sustainability goals and post-conference action plans.
By providing participants with time to brainstorm within their school groups what sustainable action they would like to see taken at their schools, we hope to rally students to enact the change they wish to collectively see. We also hope that bringing all 18 VSB high schools together will encourage inter-school support on sustainability projects, particularly ones that have been previously undertaken by other VSB schools.
The Porpoise Conservation Society will take part in the NGO Fair as part of the conference.

24th Annual Marine Mammal Symposium
2016-11-26 | University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Join the University of British Columbia’s Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all. This meeting is open to students, researchers, educators, businesses and others involved with marine mammals. Anyone in one or more of these categories is welcome to attend.

2nd Annual Pembrokeshire Porpoise Symposium
2016-09-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest, United Kingdom
Sea Trust invites you to come and get to know about these fascinating little cetaceans where and when to see them and why Pembrokeshire is so important to them.
Why do we need to protect them? How are they protected? Where can I see them? Are they really our porpoises? Porpoise Photo ID.
Find out much more from our guest speakers Malcolm Barradell, Dr Rob Davies, Cliff Benson.
Many thanks to Pembrokeshire College for hosting this event.
Entry £5 at the door. Students £3.

International Save The Vaquita Day 2016
2016-07-09
“We are doing everything we can to reverse the Vaquita’s decline, from online awareness to in-person outreach. One of our biggest efforts has been International Save the Vaquita Day, which has taken place on the second Saturday of July since 2013. ISTVD is a worldwide celebration of the Vaquita and the people trying to save it, through tables, festivals, and much more. This year it is on July 9, and we are going to make the event bigger than ever! We will have tables all around the world, as well as a huge social media effort, all to create buzz and educate the public about this extremely urgent cause! In 2015 we convinced the Mexican government to ban all gillnet fishing in the Vaquita’s range, which is amazing news! Now this year, we are going to have to make sure they flawlessly enforce the ban as well as make it permanent with the aid of Vaquita-safe fishing gear!”
The Porpoise Conservation Society will support International Save the Vaquita Day 2016 to raise awareness for this critically endangered species, with our main event scheduled in collaboration with the Vancouver Aquarium on July 9.

International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise
2016-05-15
In 2002, the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS) declared the third Sunday in May of each year as the “International Day of the Baltic Harbour Porpoise” (IDBHP) in order to raise awareness of the critical situation of the populations of Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), the only species of cetacean native to the Baltic Sea.
The #IDBHP offers a good occasion to highlight the critical status of the Baltic population of the harbour porpoise and the threats to its survival. Effective conservation measures can benefit the harbour porpoise population, other species sharing its habitat and the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea as a whole.

NGO Fair at Vancouver School Board Sustainability Conference
2016-04-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, 7055 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC, V6P 3P7, Canada
The VSB will be hosting its fourth district-wide Sustainability Conference this year on April 18, 2016 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary. The day will include keynote speakers, two workshops sessions, a zero-waste lunch, a NGO Fair and Networking & School Planning sessions.
The Conference welcomes students, teachers, administrators, and PAC members from all 18 Vancouver secondary schools, as well as board staff and trustees, out-of-district attendees, and elementary school teachers.
The Porpoise Conservation Society will attend the NGO Fair portion of the event.

Global conservation of porpoises is way cool because…
2016-03-06 13:00 | Beaty Biodiversity Museum, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
In all the world’s oceans there are only seven species of porpoise that exist. Though these little marine mammals are found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and their distributions are mostly separate from one another – these highly intelligent marine animals face significant conservation challenges. None more so, than the highly endangered Vaquita – found only in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico – for which extinction is imminent unless the current conservation efforts succeed.
Porpoise Conservation Society president Dr. Anna Hall will present an overview of the world’s porpoise species, from those found in the coastal waters of British Columbia to the far reaches of the Southern Ocean off Antarctica. Porpoise natural history and conservation will be the focus of the talk, with details of how to get involved in the protection and conservation of these small, elusive marine mammals.
Admission: included in museum admission.

The Porpoises & Dolphins of the San Francisco Bay Area
2016-02-23 19:00 | Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA, United States
Golden Gate Cetacean Research biologists, Jon Stern, Bill Keener and Izzy Szczepaniak, will present the results of their newest research on the porpoises and dolphins of San Francisco Bay, providing an up-to-date since their last talk for ACS in 2012. The team has been studying two species, harbor porpoises and bottlenose dolphins, from shore and boat for the past 6 years.
The team has compiled the first photo-identification catalogs for harbor porpoises and the San Francisco Bay bottlenose dolphins, giving us a window into the lives of individual animals. They will share their observations about the unexpected return of harbor porpoises to the Bay, and the appearance of bottlenose dolphins off our coast. Learn about changes to the Bay ecosystem that played a role in bringing back porpoises, the warm water El Niño conditions that brought bottlenose dolphins up from Southern California, and what this may mean for our coast.
Here’s your chance to find out the difference between a porpoise and a dolphin, where to see these fascinating creatures, and what you can do to help in the study of marine mammals in the Bay.

Harbor Porpoise Workshop
2015-12-12 08:30 - 17:30 | Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel, 333 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
The goal of the workshop is to begin discussion among people studying harbor porpoises in different locations, with different techniques and foci to (1) discuss similarities and differences between locations (2) develop a framework to quantify how harbor porpoises integrate and are affected by natural and human-induced environmental change. (3) Perhaps see if there is a way to distinguish between responses of porpoises to these types of changes.
Talks will be 10 minutes, with time for discussion and questions. We are interested in topics ranging from, but not limited to: Individuals (energetics, movement, acoustics, mating, behavior), Population (size estimation, aging, genetics, reproduction, distribution, mortality), community (feeding, predation) and Ecosystem (oceanographic changes and regimes) levels. We are also interested in topics including human (fishery, by-catch, contaminant and noise) interactions, as well as larger climate change issues.
We hope that this will provide an opportunity for those who study harbor porpoises to interact and discuss their research and to put porpoises into a 21st century context where their environment is changing. We hope this will give us all a chance to exchange ideas and maybe set up future collaborations.
Date and time; Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 830-1730.
Field Trip: Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. A trip led by Golden Gate Cetacean Research folks to see Harbor Porpoises from our local huge, stationary Drone (i.e. the Golden Gate Bridge). Details TBA
If you are interested, have any questions, or would like to submit an abstract (by Sept. 30, 2015), then send an email to: Jonathan Stern (jonney@sfsu.edu) or Christina Lockyer (christina_lockyer@hotmail.com).
Cost: $80(US) Early bird, $90 (US) after Sept. 15, 2015.

A Tale of Two Porpoises: The Vaquita and the Harbor Porpoise
2015-08-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627, United States
ACS-Orange County is excited to have Dr. Thomas A. Jefferson, a highly regarded marine scientist and leading advocate for the Vaquita and other small cetaceans in jeopardy, as guest speaker at our August meeting!
Dr. Jefferson’s topic will be “A Tale of Two Porpoises: The Vaquita and the Harbor Porpoise.” Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices in this field!
All our meetings are free, and everyone is welcome!

Marine Mammals in the Wadden Sea
2015-08-27 | National Park Administration Wadden Sea, Germany
The Wadden Sea Day 2015 will highlight the role and population development of marine mammals in the ecosystem of the Wadden Sea World Heritage property and mark the 25th anniversary of the Wadden Sea Seal Agreement.
Two seal species and a toothed whale have established remarkable populations in the Wadden Sea. The harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) are ecological key-stone species of the area, but also receive considerable attention among the general public. Current seal numbers in the region are the highest ever recorded and stand for a major success story of these protection activities, with an impressive recovery from major setbacks such as the two big virus diseases
This one-day symposium will provide an overview on the status of the marine mammals in the Wadden Sea World Heritage property. The focus of the presentations will be on general information, but also on expert knowledge on diseases and threats, socio economic interactions, new insights, while not forgetting a historical view.

International Save the Vaquita Day
2015-07-11
This year, Saturday, July 11, 2015 has been designated as the Third Annual International Save the Vaquita Day!! This is intended to be an annual event similar to Earth Day, but with a specific focus on raising awareness and appreciation of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita (Phocoena sinus). Events around the globe will direct the attention of people to the plight of this tiny porpoise species, and what needs to be done to save it from extinction. There will be booths, games, music, free prizes, educational brochures, talks, face painting, and several life-size models of vaquitas on hand to draw attention to and appreciation of the vaquita, Mexico’s “Panda of the Sea”.
The primary goal is to make as many people as possible aware of the vaquita and its plight, and spur them to act. The species is nearly extinct, with only about 80 individuals left, and is declining at almost 19% per year! We will have a simple message for folks about what they can do to help (either full support for the Mexican Government, or support for a boycott and embargo of Mexican seafood – depending on Mexico’s actions in the next month or so). Secondary goals are to gather signatures for our petitions to the Mexican government, and also to raise additional funds for future educational and research work on the vaquita. The event is designed to be fun, as well as educational, and kid-friendly!
Last year, there were 18 venues, in the United States, Mexico, Australia, and Europe. In 2015, we hope to have booths at all the same venues, plus many new ones. We will also have the participation of zoos, aquaria, and museums (for example, Sea World, Long Beach Aquarium, San Diego Zoo, and SD Natural History Museum). We also hope to attract media attention, so that the vaquita is covered on national and local news, thereby greatly expanding the number of people exposed. Please check our website regularly to learn the latest on the activities planned and venues details. We hope you will attend (or better yet, volunteer at) an event in your area.
Tom Jefferson / VIVA Vaquita
sclymene@aol.com

Rally: International Save the Vaquita Day 2015
2015-07-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Mexican Embassy, 1911 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, United States
The vaquita is the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoise, found only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of California. Less than 80 individuals are believed to remain and in an effort to save them a rally will take place outside the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, to bring attention to their plight as part of the International Save the Vaquita Day 2015.
The purpose of the rally is to thank the Mexican government for imposing a two-year gill net fishing ban and improving enforcement in the vaquita’s habitat, and urging the country make the ban permanent and increase enforcement measures.
Where – Mexican Embassy, 1911 Pennsylvania Ave NW
When – July 9, 2015, 8-10am
Nearest Metro station – Farragut West (blue, orange, silver lines)
What to wear – all participants will receive a free ¡Viva La Vaquita Marina! T-shirt (while supplies last)
What to bring – water, sunscreen, enthusiasm!
RSVP –info@awionline.org
Background
Fishing gear is the biggest threat to vaquitas. They often drown after becoming entangled in shrimp nets or in illegal gillnets set for totoaba, an endangered fish that is also only found only in the Gulf of California. The totoaba’s swim bladder is illegally exported to Asia to make soup and
for unproven traditional medicine treatments. Demand for totoaba bladders has recently spiked, with a single bladder fetching up to US$14,000.
After years of international pressure, particularly from the scientific community, Mexico announced a two-year ban on most gillnets in the northern Gulf of California in April, and promised to increase enforcement action against the growing illegal totoaba fishery. While
Mexico’s actions are commendable, experts assert that a permanent ban on nets in the Gulf and rigorous enforcement of that ban are necessary to save the vaquita.
Groups have recently urged that the Gulf of California World Heritage site—designated as such largely to protect the vaquita and the totoaba—be officially declared “in danger” by the United Nations. There has also been an appeal to the Obama administration to impose trade sanctions
against Mexico to stop the country’s illegal totoaba fishery. That could include a prohibition on the import of shrimp from Mexico.
A new population survey for vaquita by US and Mexican scientists is scheduled to start in September, around the time that fishing activity, and consequently vaquita mortality, will be peaking. In all likelihood, the survey will produce disappointing news.
http://www.vivavaquita.org/assets/isvd_dc.pdf

Pembrokeshire Porpoise Symposium
2015-07-02 | Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest, United Kingdom
Porpoise Conservation Society president Dr. Anna Hall will be speaking at the first Pembrokeshire Porpoise Symposium.
“We have one of the world’s leading porpoise experts coming to Pembrokeshire, Dr Anna Hall. Anna has been studying wild harbour porpoises in the waters around British Columbia for almost two decades, during this time she has learned much about their ecology, biology, life history, abundance, distribution and habitat use patterns. Anna will be speaking at the event, along with several other local experts. The event will start at 7pm in the Merlin Theatre, Haverfordwest on the 2nd of July, 2015.”

Saving a Species: Vaquita
2015-06-25 16:30 - 17:30 | WWF-US Headquaters, 2nd Floor Conference Center, 1250 24th Street, N.W. Washington, DC, 20037, United States
As part of WWF’s quarterly seminar series, Dr. Rebecca Lent and Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Branco will speak about the important work being done by both the US and Mexico to save the Vaquita from extinction.
Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, Ph.D. is the Head of the Organization for the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation at the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change in Mexico. Rebecca Lent, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Marine Mammal Commission.
