Endangered Porpoise: Only One Year Left, Warn Scientists

Scientists are warning that one of the world’s most endangered creatures has only one year left before going completely extinct if illegal fishing nets continue to be used.  Urgent action is needed now, say the researchers of a new study, if we are to save the remaining vaquita porpoises.

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The porpoises live only in the upper Gulf of California in Mexico where authorities have banned the use of the gillnet which has been killing them, but fishing crews have been ignoring that ban. The porpoises get caught up in the nets and drown (source).

It is estimated the number of vaquita has fallen by 98.6 per cent since monitoring began in 2011. The current estimated porpoises still living is down to just nine (9).

Scientists are calling on authorities for immediate management action to save the remaining creatures.

Journal Reference: Jaramillo-Legorreta, A.M., et al. (2019). Decline towards extinction of Mexico’s vaquita porpoise, Royal Society of Open Science, Study: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.190598.