Vaquita: Most Endangered Cetacean
World's Smallest Porpoise May be Next to Face Extinction
A little known small cetacean, existing only in the Sea of Cortez, is in danger of extinction. Changes to fisheries and local involvement are needed to save the vaquita.
The northern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, is the only place in the world where the smallest porpoise in the world, the vaquita (Phocena sinus), is found. Despite having been listed as critically endangered since 1996, it's population continues to decline, with estimated birthrates lower than bycatch deaths in the totoaba and shrimp fisheries each year. Alternatives to fishing and improvements in gear are needed to prevent the vaquita’s extinction.
HIstory of the Vaquita
The vaquita is the smallest of the porpoises, only about 5 feet in length when fully grown. This tiny cetacean is not well understood, having only been determined to be a separate species in 1958. Vaquita (Spanish for ‘little cow’) live in very small groups and spend very little time on the surface making surveying difficult.
What surveys have shown is that the biosphere reserve which was set up in the most northern part of the Gulf of California, while protecting some other endangered species, did not take in a large portion of the waters regularly inhabited by vaquita. So in 2006, further sections of the gulf were designated as marine refuge area.
Dangers the Vaquita Face
There are concerns about the effects of pollution, reduced water flows from the Colorado River and habitat degradation on the vaquita but the major threat to this porpoise is, ironically, from a fishery that catches an endangered fish species, the totoaba or totoava (Totoaba macdonaldi).
The totoaba fishery was closed in the 70s but reopened as an‘experimental’ fishery shortly thereafter. Estimates of as many as 70 vaquita per year being killed in nets when balanced against a total population of less than 600 (latest estimates put the numbers at less than 250) and estimated birthrates lower than losses mean the vaquita can’t recover unless something changes.
Further losses occur from shrimp trawlers working in the area. The catch from this fishery is mostly exported to the United States.
Saving the Vaquita
Recognizing that lessons learned from the extinction of the baiji should be put to work for this other critically endangered cetacean, vaquita.org was born. Marine mammal scientists, fisheries experts, and others are working with the local fishing communities in vaquita habitat to find solutions.
Ensuring that the local fishermen are involved in the decision-making process is necessary if there is to be any compliance. Illegal fishing is common in the area, so regulations handed down from elsewhere are unlikely to meet with success. CEDO, a local organization has led talks with fishermen, using video of an orphaned calf to help connect them with the vaquita, then discussing alternatives to fishing.
The general public can do their part by not purchasing shrimp taken from the Gulf of California and by supporting local ecotourism ventures which provide fishermen with alternative means of income.
Although the population is small, individual vaquitas appear to be healthy which means that if the zero bycatch goal of the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita can be achieved, this tiny porpoise has a reasonable chance of survival.
