No Refuge for Mexico’s Endangered Vaquita Porpoise

It seems that every time we've secured a step forward for saving the highly endangered vaquita marina porpoise, we are then asked to take two steps back.  A proposal from local fishermen this month to use large, industrial size boats for shrimp trawling in the only home of the vaquita would seriously undermine conservation efforts when we need it most.  Time is running out for the last 150 vaquitas. We cannot afford to take any steps back if we are to prevent the extinction of a fellow mammal in our lifetimes.

NRDC has been working since 2005 to remove harmful gillnets that entangle and drown vaquitas from the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico in an effective and equitable way. Following years of intense advocacy, Mexico began a compensation program to help reduce the number of fishermen, exchange gillnets for porpoise-safe fishing gear, and prohibit the use of gillnets in the Vaquita Refuge. 

The Vaquita Refuge was created in 2005 to provide additional protection to the vaquita. The area includes some 80% of all verified vaquita sightings.  Last year was the first time that Mexico effectively monitored and enforced the Refuge as a no fishing zone and appropriately compensated fishermen for their loss of catch.  After years of unregulated and illegal fishing in vaquita habitat this was a  giant step forward.

Now the Upper Gulf shrimp trawl fishermen are asking their government and the rest of us to take a step back in our collective efforts.  Last month, they submitted an Environmental Impact Statement to Mexico's Ministry of Environment to allow 109 large, industrial boats to trawl in the Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve for shrimp, including within the vaquita refuge starting as early as October 2009. 

Two decades of being listed on multiple endangered species lists, three different protected area designations, hundreds of meetings and now Mexico is considering a proposal to trawl in the only place on the planet we've set aside for this species to survive.  Trawling simply has no place in the Vaquita Refuge.  Now is the time to take action and urge Mexico to reject this proposal and maintain its commitment to protecting marine mammals.  Together, I am certain we can help ensure that the Vaquita Refuge is the safe haven that it was intended to be.