April

Species of the Month

April 2025: the Vaquita

“The vaquita (vuh-KEE-tuh) is a critically endangered porpoise that only lives in the northern end of the gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico. There are less than nine vaquitas left due to illegal gillnet fishing for fish and shrimp, and for the also critically endangered totoaba fish.” 

What is a vaquita?

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the world’s smallest porpoise. It is also known as the “smiling panda” and the “panda of the seas” because of the iconic black markings around its eyes and mouth. The vaquita has a lifespan of about 21 years and it's believed that they give birth to one calf about every two years, which is relatively slow; though it's possible that they can reproduce annually.

Why do vaquitas matter?

Vaquitas eat squid, shrimp, and bony fish such as herrings, grunts, and croakers, and serve as prey to dolphins (orcas) and sharks. They are an important part of the food web, providing food for top predators and controlling the population of squid, shrimp, and fish.

Overview of a vaquita and the problems it's facing:

The vaquita (vuh-KEE-tuh) is a critically endangered porpoise that only lives in the northern end of the gulf of California in Baja California, Mexico, also known as the Sea of Cortez.

On the brink of extinction, there are believed to be less than nine vaquitas left (from an estimated 567 individuals in 1997 according to NOAA, although more vaquitas could have already died from gillnets at the time) due to illegal gillnet fishing for fish and shrimp, and for the also critically endangered totoaba fish. Gillnets are walls of netting that are designed so that a fish can get their head through, but not the rest of their body. When they try to pull back out, their gills get caught in the netting. Vaquitas don’t have gills, but the gillnets are the perfect size for them to also get stuck because vaquitas and totoabas are about the same size. And it's not just vaquitas at risk when gillnets are used. Gillnets are responsible for a lot of bycatch—vaquitas, sea turtles, sea lions, birds, sharks, and sea otters get entangled in them as well as their intended prey.

Totoaba fish are prized in China for their bladders, which supposedly have medicinal benefits. They're federally protected in both the U.S. and Mexico, which means it's illegal to catch, transport, or sell them, but people still do it because buyers pay a lot for totoaba---according to Mongabay, totoaba bladders can be sold for $20,000--$80,000 per kilo.

The Mexican Navy, along with Sea Shepherd, an American organization, have been enforcing the ban on the use of gillnets in the vaquita’s habitat by sinking cement blocks with hooks onto the ocean floor to snare and tear expensive gillnets, but it’s not enough. In recent years, vaquitas have been observed moving out of the protected zone (the Zero-Tolerance-Area, or ZTA) and into the Extension Area (EA). The Mexican Navy and Sea Shepherd have been sinking concrete blocks in the EA, but according to Mongabay, fishers are complaining that they didn't give them proper notice before doing so, preventing their ability to work in the northern end of the Gulf of California. They also point out that the concrete blocks could potentially harm vaquitas by trapping gillnets in their hooks, creating "ghost nets" that are no longer in use but can still entangle and kill animals. However, the addition of concrete blocks have lowered the use of gillnets in the vaquitas habitat considerably, according to IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group.

Other people believe there are other ways to combat the problem vaquitas are facing, by fighting organized crime instead of just patrolling the seas. According to Mongabay, Andrea Crosta, the executive director of Earth League International, says that the fishers aren't the only threat to vaquitas---so are the people organizing the illegal trade of totoabas behind the scenes.

How can I help?

You can help save the vaquita by choosing sustainable seafood at the store and at restaurants. You can use sites like Seafood Watch, Ocean Wise, and SeaChoice to help you make the right choices. You can also help by spreading the word and donating to conservation efforts! If you want to support the vaquita conservation efforts of the Porpoise Conservation Society and Save the Whales, you can symbolically adopt a vaquita, something that also makes a great gift!

International Save the Vaquita Day

International Save the Vaquita day is an annual event organized by Porpoise Conservation Society and VIVA Vaquita, dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of the vaquita! International Save the Vaquita day usually consists of a mix of in-person events and virtual events. The date for International Save the Vaquita day 2025 is yet to be announced, but in the past, it has taken place in July, August, or September. For more information, go here: https://vaquita.day/ or check back on this page for updates later in the year.

UPDATE 6/23/2025!: The 2025 date for International Save the Vaquita day has been announced! The day will be held on October 4th of this year and will take place from about 9am--12:15pm PDT! The events are both virtual and in-person! To learn more about the day's events, go here: https://vivavaquita.org/international-save-the-vaquita-day/ Check back on this link for more updates!