Mexico is planning to use drones to patrol the upper Sea of Cortez to combat illegal fishing and save the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise.
Assistant environmental prosecutor Alejandro del Mazo said his agency has conducted tests of unmanned aircraft flights in cooperation with the Mexican Navy. Mr. Del Mazo says he hopes to have three drones patrolling the vaquita’s habitat in coming months. Also known as the Gulf of California, it is the only place vaquitas are found.Fewer than 100 of the shy, elusive porpoises remain.
The vaquita is threatened by illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba, a large fish whose swim bladder is prized by chefs in China. Authorities are proposing a $37 million plan to ban gillnets in the upper Gulf.
