The vaquita is not yet extinct but is considered critically endangered. With fewer than 20 individuals estimated to remain in the wild, the vaquita is the world’s most endangered marine…
Totoaba
The totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a very large species of fish that is endemic to the Gulf of California in Mexico. Once abundant, the totoaba has become rare and is…
What are the chances of seeing a vaquita in the wild?
With fewer than 20 individuals remaining, the prospect of encountering a vaquita in the wild has become a near-mythical experience. The chances of seeing a vaquita in its natural habitat…
What can I do to save the vaquita porpoise?
There are some very simple things you can do to support the vaquita conservation effort, ranging from just spreading the word to using your buying power when shopping for seafood.
What efforts have been made to save the vaquita?
Since the vaquita was first described by science and shortly after declared “vulnerable” by the IUCN, numerous actions have been taken by the Mexican government to save the species. However, none of these actions have prevented the decline of the population.
A ban on gill-nets should have halted the decline, but gill-net fishing continues, with seasonal permits for a local species of fish, the corvina, and illegally for the totoaba.
What is killing the vaquita?
Vaquita face a singular, deadly threat that has pushed them to the brink: entanglement in fishing nets as bycatch. Bycatch refers to the accidental capture of non-target species in fishing…
What is the totoaba and how is it connected to the vaquita?
The totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a large, slow-growing fish found exclusively in the Sea of Cortez. Capable of reaching over six feet in length and weighing up to 220 pounds,…
What will happen to the ecosystem if vaquitas go extinct?
The potential extinction of the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal, raises concerns not only for the species itself but also for the broader ecosystem of the Gulf of…
Where does the vaquita live and what makes the habitat special?
The vaquita lives in a distinct and exceptional environment nestled within the northern Gulf of California, which is also known as the Sea of Cortez. This narrow body of water…
Why are Mexico’s efforts to save the vaquita not effective?
Mexico has tried various things to help the vaquita population recover: it declared a refuge, later stepped up its efforts and banned gill-nets throughout the vaquita’s range, sending its navy…