The world’s cutest marine mammal is in danger of dying out. The vaquita, a small porpoise, is nearly extinct. It’s down to about less than 20 animals and, according to a new study, the vaquita’s population is expected to plummet by half by 2022. That’s because the vaquita is often caught and drowned in fishing nets that contain other, larger and more valuable fish. The good news is that there are some great organizations and people working to save this adorable animal.
What is the vaquita?
Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is short for the vaquita whale, which is related to the dolphins. The vaquita is also called the Gulf of California harbor porpoise. In Spanish, the vaquita means “little cow” while “vaquita marina” in Spanish, means “little sea cow. The unique, docile and shy vaquita is dark gray to light gray with a white belly. It has two dark rings around each eye which are made of dark-gray pigment that is similar to eyeliner, and three stripes on its body. Dolphin and porpoise are two different species from two different families. The vaquita, like other porpoises, differs in several ways from dolphins. For example, porpoises lack a beak while dolphins tend to have more prominent beaks with spade-shaped teeth. All porpoises live in highly productive waters, which are typically found in northern areas. Vaquitas have made their home in the northern Gulf of California thousands of miles from their nearest relative in Peru. The sea where the vaquitas live is not as clear as other tropical waters, but has a clouded look due to the powerful currents and nutrients stirred from the muddy bottom deposited by thousands of years of runoff from the Colorado River. Vaquitas use a series of high-pitched clicks to get around in the dark and murky waters. This strategy is effective for navigation and hunting where vision is useless. The ecosystem where the Vaquita resides unfortunately is rapidly diminishing due to pollution from human development and shrimp fishing.
Why is the vaquita endangered?
The Vaquita is disappearing at an alarming rate. One reason for this is the persistence of illegal fishing in their habitat. The totoaba fish’s swim bladder can fetch large sums and has been targeted by gillnet fisheries. Vaquitas are very small – about four-feet long and 100 pounds – and they live near the surface at the water’s edge, making them easy targets for gill nets used to catch shrimp and fish that are commercially valuable to humans. Fishermen often cast their nets without thinking about what they might catch because they need to cast out quickly before other boats get there first. The vaquita population is near extinction and we have just two years left. We need to take effective steps now to save them. This includes stopping gillnet fishing in their habitat and implementing strict enforcement to make sure no one is caught fishing illegally.
What can we do to save the vaquita?
There are fewer than 20 vaquitas left in the world, but they need your help to keep going. Let’s come together to raise awareness about the issue and expose the bad actors that are violating their fragile ecosystems. Share what you know on social media, and blog about it so that more people know about this important topic. Your contribution to organizations like VaquitaCPR will help conserve vaquita and prevent it from slipping into extinction. As a seafood lover, you should advocate for sustainable fisheries with restaurants and food providers around you. The increased demand will ensure that there are sustainable sources for the future. The plight of the Vaquita is a global environmental issue that will raise awareness and contribution by working towards sustainable ocean practices and coastal communities locally. So endeavor to learn about their plight and start a conversation with your friends and family, or join an online campaign by signing a petition. There are many things you can do right now to help, from simply sharing knowledge to advocating for stricter law enforcement.