Revealing the most endangered marine mammal on Earth

The vaquita is the smallest cetacean — the group of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises — averaging 4-5 feet in length and weighing about 65-120 pounds.

This rare animal has a maximum length of only about 1.5m, weighs 50kg and has a lifespan of about 21 years. Since being discovered in the 1950s, they have been listed as one of the most endangered animals in the world .

Dr. Sergio Nigenda Morales, from the National Genetics Laboratory for Biodiversity in Irapuato, Guanajuato state, central Mexico, said that vaquita dolphins are “unwilling” victims caught in the gillnets of Totoaba fishing boats ( scientific name of the perch family).

Vaquita dolphin

On the black market, Totoaba fish bladders cost up to $9,000/kg.

In addition, habitat destruction and pollution and "sweeps" by fishing boats are just a few of the human actions that affect this species.

“The extinction of the vaquita is inevitable unless 100% of gillnets are immediately replaced with other fishing gear to protect vaquita populations and the livelihoods of fishermen,” the IWC said.

Efforts to curb the use of gillnets have prompted the Mexican government to impose a total ban on them, teaming up with actor Leonardo DiCaprio and the navy to use concrete blocks to create a "zero tolerance zone" for illegal fishing.

The IWC says these efforts need to be 100% effective for vaquita numbers to begin to recover, but what has been done so far seems to be keeping the population stable at least. Vaquita numbers have not been observed to decline since 2018, and they have even been spotted with juveniles.

“They haven’t stopped breeding yet,” said Dr Lindsay Porter, vice-chair of the IWC’s Scientific Committee. “If we can remove the pressures, the numbers can recover.”

The Hao (synthesis)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/lo-dien-loai-thu-bien-co-nguy-co-tuyet-chung-cao-nhat-trai-dat-a653775.html