1.- Why is it important to have a campaign to save the Marine
Vaquita? Mexico has the privilege of having this species - the Marine
Vaquita - in its territory. This species is exclusively native to
the Upper Gulf of California, that is, it can not be found anywhere
else in the world. Since 1990, the World Conservancy Union has classified
the Marine Vaquita as an "Endangered Species" and recently, as being
"In critical danger of extinction". In Mexico, it is listed under
the NOM 059 ECOL 1994 as an endangered species.
2.- Is it still possible to save the Marine Vaquita with its
remaining population?
The Marine Vaquita has developed in deep isolation, which enables
the species to face a decrease in its population without losing
its genetic features. Experience has shown that endangered species
can recover their population if the causes that threaten them are
faced and significantly decreased. The best example thereof is the
gray whale that was an endangered species due to whaling activities
and by prohibiting such activities, its population has fully recovered.
3. There are those who assert the Marine Vaquita is already
in extinction, so then, does it makes any sense to do anything for
this species?
The best proof that it still exists is the fact that specimens continue
being caught and dying in fishermen's nets, which also demonstrates
its presence in the region and the threats it faces. Marine Vaquita
is a species that can not be easily observed, since it flees when
boats appear and remains under the water for several minutes without
having to come out to breathe. A more reliable and recent evaluation
of the Vaquita population estimates only 567 specimens exist. This
figure is within a statistical reliability range that locates the
reliability interval at about 177 to 1,074 Vaquita specimens. It
is estimated that between 39 to 84 Marine Vaquitas die every year
as by-catches.
4. Which is the Marine Vaquita's main cause of death?
The main threat to Marine Vaquitas is by-catch mortality in gill
nets, as well as alterations to the habitat due to use of trawler
nets in the buffer zone (area that surrounds the site where the
largest number of Vaquitas is concentrated) of the "Upper Gulf of
California and Colorado River Delta" Biosphere Reserve. Marine Vaquitas
require to come out to the surface to breathe, but they are trapped
in these fishing nets and drown. It has been noted that Marine Vaquitas
are also trapped during other fishing activities for catching Spanish
mackerel, silver perch, shrimp and other species, are used.
5. What measures are being proposed to save the Marine Vaquita?
Experience has shown that endangered species can recover their population
if the causes that threaten them are faced and significantly decreased.
The best example thereof is the gray whale that was an endangered
species due to whaling activities and by prohibiting such activities,
its population has fully recovered. In the case of the Vaquita,
the limit of by-catch mortality estimated to prevent extinction
amounts to 0.2% annually, that is, a zero by-catch mortality rate
has to be guaranteed in order to achieve the species' effective
recovery.
Eliminating risk factors for Vaquitas is a serious issue, since
it has enormous political, cultural, social and economic implications
in local communities. Nonetheless, it can be achieved by implementing
fishing regulations and enforcing the law. By enforcing these instruments,
coastal fishermen are willing to stop using nets that catch a larger
number of Vaquitas, that is gill nets with mesh sizes larger than
three inches, since they could catch shrimp with nets and have a
much smaller number of by-catches than boats. It is estimated that
in this way there would be an immediate 65% reduction in Vaquita
mortality. Lastly, it is also important to modify the present boundaries
of the Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve in order to include
every habitat in the entire area of distribution of this species,
since presently, its boundaries only include 60% of its area, the
remaining 40% being unprotected.
6. Which is the proposal for affected communities and sectors?
Our proposal is based on an understanding of cultural, social and
economic aspects that allow to redirect fishing activities toward
the use of fishing technologies that are not harmful for the Marine
Vaquita and its habitat, as well as on furthering other alternative
economic activities that satisfy growing demands of regional social
development.
The socio-economic strategy intends to promote economically feasible,
socially and culturally acceptable, lawfully permissible and environmentally
sustainable alternative productive activities.
To attain this purpose, it is necessary for any proposal to comply
with the following criteria:
a) Economic alternatives should address the expectations
and needs of the interested parties, providing equal or
larger benefits than present productive activities;
b) All parties interested or affected should actively
participate in the design of these alternatives; and
c) Plans should become a reality as soon as possible,
with an orderly project execution and expected results
that are relevant and evident for the interested parties,
within the scheduled times.
To insure success, it is necessary for the benefits of the Strategy
to become evident to the interested parties in the shortest time
possible, allowing the efforts to continue. With this in mind, projects
that result in a rapid yield and that have a proven cost-benefit
efficiency will be promoted during the Strategy's early implementation
phases. It is also crucial for fishermen to be aware of the benefits
of conservation, to be convinced to change their way to obtain income
and to become sensitized, to be trained and informed on environmental
aspects, as well as those which the Strategy intends to improve.
Direct participation of the inhabitants and their social and labor
organizations in the design of these alternatives will be supported
and promoted. Furthermore, the population will be informed as regards
different private and governmental sources of financing and support
to increase the viability of businesses and income sources that
will be created.
On the other hand, the organizations involved and committed with
the Strategy will make sure that the national and international
finance organizations that support sustainable development, become
acquainted with the Strategy and put at the disposal of the interested
parties, relevant information to have access to such funds. Lastly,
a fundamental requirement is to have the Government's political
will, since the Strategy can only be implemented through the coordinated
actions of several agencies at the three governmental levels and
with the active participation of all social actors involved.
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