Exclusive from Mexico
¡There are only about 600 en the World!
The Vaquita Marina, a porpoise native
to Mexico, is an endangered species. It is calculated that there
are no more than some 600 individuals of this species and that annually
between 40 and 80 Vaquitas die in fishing nets. This Mexican species
will disappear from the planet if urgent measures to save it are
not taken.
The Vaquita could be the first cetacean to disappear due to human
activities. This species lives in the Upper Gulf of California,
one of the world's most productive marine habitats. The Gulf of
California, also known as Sea of Cortez, as well as the Baja California
peninsula that separates it from the Pacific ocean, contain a large
diversity of marine and coastal flora and fauna, especially, a large
percentage of native species that can not be found anywhere else
on the planet. And this is the case of the Vaquita.
The largest cause of mortality of the Vaquita is that it is trapped
in gill nets used by fishermen for fishing sharks, Spanish mackerel,
northern milkfish, and other species. Riparian fishermen are willing
to decrease the use of these nets if a new set of fishing regulations
is issued for the area. This is possible, since most of the Vaquita's
habitat is located within the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado
River Delta Biosphere Reserve.
The law establishes that fishing techniques causing severe environmental
impacts should not be used in natural protected areas comprising
marine ecosystems. Presently, fishing fleets that pursuant to the
law should not enter the Reserve's area, come to fish in it. If
the law is applied, riparian fishermen could have access to other
marine resources and stop using a large part of their gill nets.
This would be a first measure that should be followed by the promotion
of several productive alternatives for the region's fishing communities.
Be a part of the virtual community of Vaquita Marina; choose your own
way to help.
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