The vaquita-the world’s smallest cetacean is critically endangered and may soon become extinct if drastic action is not taken. The vaquita is a species of porpoise that lives only in a very small area in the Gulf of California in Mexico. Scientists have warned that there are only 30 vaquita left, and the surviving population is struggling due to illegal fishing methods. Many are campaigning for the Mexican government to be tougher on illegal fishing, from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to the world-renowned actor and climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio.
Despite the campaigns and the Mexican laws, many fishermen still use illegal gillnets to fish for Totoaba. Totoaba have valuable swim bladders, that can sell at $8,500 per kilogram on the Chinese Black Market, where it is used in Chinese Medicine. The problem is, these nets have caught a lot of vaquita as bycatch. As a result of this, 90% of the vaquita population has died since 2011, making the vaquita the most endangered cetacean species in the world. In March and April of this year, five vaquita were found dead-three recovered from illegal gillnets.
The gillnets have been banned since 2015, however the ban has been labelled ‘ineffective,’ and is due to expire in late May. Campaigners are encouraging the Mexican government to extend the ban, and to enforce it more strictly. Other drastic plans, such as capturing the remaining vaquita and moving them to safe waters until the population has recovered have been considered.
If, however, action isn’t taken in time, the world’s smallest cetacean may be lost forever. It may be too late already, and the vaquita may become another species made extinct by man’s careless actions.
By Tom
Trinity Academy BBC School Report Blog 