The vaquita porpoise, the most endangered marine mammal according to the New York Times, could soon become extinct.
What is going on?
An annual expedition recorded the lowest number of vaquita porpoises ever, with only a handful left.
A Times article documented the unfortunate discovery. While the population was estimated at around 10 last year, this year the numbers are even lower, with only six to eight sightings. The news comes nearly a year after the International Whaling Commission warned of extinction and expressed “deep concern and disappointment over the lack of progress by the Mexican government in conducting a rigorous and transparent assessment of alternative fishing gear,” according to the Times.
It may not be as bad as we think, but we should still prepare for the worst. As the Times reported, “the scientific team and Mexican authorities warned that the population had not necessarily declined, and stressed that more vaquitas may exist outside the search area.”
Researchers hope that the decline in porpoises in the area means that they have moved, rather than died. Possible reasons for migration include changing weather conditions such as El Niño or simply searching for areas with more food.
Why are porpoises important?
Vaquita porpoises are the smallest cetacean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On average, they are only 4 to 5 feet long and often weigh less than 100 pounds. Compared to their cousins — whales and dolphins — these mammals are tiny.
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Earth.Org calls them “an essential part of the natural food chain. … These gentle creatures serve as a vital population control mechanism for several species of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.”
Without them, the ecological balance of the Gulf of California would be disrupted. Their predators would have less food available and their prey populations would remain unchecked.
What is being done about the porpoises?
A major factor harming porpoises is gillnetting, “a type of fishing gear that uses huge, floating nets to catch shrimp and fish,” according to the Times. Vaquitas get caught in the nets and can’t come up for air, so they drown — and so do other air-breathing marine animals, such as dolphins and sea turtles.
Gillnet fishing is already illegal in the area, but enforcement is rare. These deaths are preventable, and Mexico is working on stricter enforcement and new solutions. The government plans to “propose new fishing and no-fishing zones, and a training session for fishermen on alternative gear is planned for August and September,” a spokeswoman for Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas said (via the Times).
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