Vaquita Porpoise Under Threat of Population Decline; Extinction Alert Issued for the World’s Rarest Marine Mammal

Experts reveal that more than one in four species on the planet are currently facing extinction, and this number can rise to 50% by the end of the century unless urgent measures are taken. One of these species is a cetacean called a vaquita, which is considered the most endangered marine mammal in the world.

Rarest Marine Mammal

In terms of size, the vaquita is known to be the smallest of porpoises and all species within the order Cetacea, growing up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. It is native and unique to the northern end of the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico and is currently endemic to a small range of 4,000 square kilometers.

A study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that the vaquita population varied from a few thousand to 5,000 over the last 250,000 years. This fluctuation is not commonly seen in other populations of marine mammals.

According to the International Whaling Commission (IWC), a specialized regional fishery management organization, the vaquita population has dramatically decreased from 570 to 10 in a decade. In 1996, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species declared the vaquita porpoise as critically endangered.

Despite almost 30 years of repeated warnings, the vaquita is on the brink of extinction, mainly due to gillnet entanglement. Gillnets are fishing nets that capture the shrimp and totoaba fish that share a habitat with vaquita. These marine mammals end up in the nets as bycatch even if they are not the intended targets.

A Chance of Recovery

The International Whaling Commission released its first-ever extinction alert to warn of the potential threat facing vaquita. Led by the organization's scientific committee, the extinct alert initiative serves as a new mechanism to raise awareness for cetacean species and populations.

Since 1975, fishing for totoaba in the Gulf of California has been illegal. However, this practice continues due to the high demand for bladders in China, which are used in traditional medicines. Experts believe the vaquita population can recover if the ban on gillnets in their habitats is strongly implemented.

For several years, concerns have been raised about the use of gillnets and the threats they pose to vaquita porpoises. The IWC has addressed the issue with the extinction alert, which aims to encourage wider recognition of the warning signs of impending extinctions. The organization also wants to generate support and encouragement for the actions required to save the vaquita.

In a news release, the IWC scientific committee noted that the extinction of the marine mammal is inevitable unless 100% of gillnets are immediately substituted with fishing gears that protect the vaquita and fishers' livelihoods. According to IWC spokesperson Kate Wilson, this species has managed to maintain a population of around ten animals for about five years. This resilience makes experts think the vaquita population may stand a chance if the gillnets are 100% removed.

Check out more news and information on Vaquita in Science Times.