The world’s smallest porpoise faces imminent extinction unless the Mexican government eliminates gill-net fishing in its only habitat, the upper Sea of Cortez, scientists have warned.
Recent studies conducted using underwater acoustic technology show since 2012, the population of the vaquita marina — Spanish for little sea cow — has fallen to fewer than 100.
The emergency has been triggered by a booming illegal trade in the toboada fish driven by Chinese demand for its swim bladder, which is believed to have medicinal properties. Mature females, probably now numbering about 25, typically give birth to one calf every two years.
“It is a critical situation,” said Barbara Taylor, from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration in the U.S., and a member of the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita that carried out the latest study.
Wake up call“It’s time for Mexico to decide if it really wants to save the vaquita and be an example to the world, or a wake up call for what gill nets can do.” Fine meshed gill nets have long been identified as the only real problem the vaquitas face in the clean water of the sea, also known as the Gulf of California. The marine mammals are particularly vulnerable to getting trapped and drowning in the nets used to catch toboada, which are about the same size as the porpoise.
The current spike in toboada fishing was apparently triggered by falling numbers of a similar fish caught in Chinese waters. There are unconfirmed reports that the trade is also being fuelled by drug traffickers developing new lines of business.
Lorenzo Rojas, a Mexican scientist on the committee, said fishermen told him buyers were offering $8,500 per kg at the end of 2012. The bladder of a mature fish weighs about half a kilo.
