Vaquita

A recently published paper provides etiological analyses of eight vaquita deaths in March and April 2016–2018. Nutritional state, lesions, biotoxins and levels of contaminants in fat were considered. Injuries to the seven vaquitas found dead (the eighth animal was the healthy adult female that died...

A video (see below) has come to light that was taken by a fisherman in the upper Gulf of California and which shows a dead vaquita entangled in a fishing net.  The video is determined to be authentic and was recorded in early March 2020. [video width="1920"...

As a review, the 2018-2019 totoaba net-removal effort was greatly reduced due to violent attacks where net-removal vessels were forced to leave the area (Table 1).  Press releases including video of the attacks are available here for the January 9th attack and here for the...

Totoaba season is winding down but gillnetting for other fish is rampant Following the 28 March incident (Sea Shepherd report can be read here), net removal operations were temporarily suspended. The Narval did not return in April and the Farley Mowat and Sharpie worked only during...

More violence mars vaquita protection efforts This update summarizes net removals from March and news about continuing violence leading to another suspension of net removal efforts. On 13 March a dead vaquita was found in a net by the Sea Shepherd net removal team (more details...

February 2019 Vaquita Update This update summarizes net removals from February and news that also includes the first half of March.  The Report of the 11th meeting of CIRVA is summarized in an earlier news item on this website.  On 13 March a dead vaquita was...

January was a month marked by the violent action of illegal fishermen directed toward people engaged in net removal efforts. Press releases including video of the attacks are available here for the January 9th attack and here for the January 31st attack. Men in multiple...

December marks the beginning of totoaba spawning season.  As was done in the 2017/2018 spawning season, vaquita updates will be posted monthly.  In this first update, a recap of last season is given to provide context. The 2017/2018 totoaba spawning season had 400 active totoaba nets...