The presence of vaquita in Mexico’s Gulf of California indicates a promising advancement in conservation efforts. Recent monitoring has recorded 41 instances of vaquita signals, suggesting potential progress. Since May, the Intragovernmental Group on Sustainability (GIS) has relied on acoustic monitoring at strategic points off San Felipe, Baja California. This method provides crucial data about the vaquita’s habitats, which is significant given their status as a critically endangered species.
Vaquitas have suffered a dramatic decline in population, primarily due to illegal totoaba fishing. Recent estimates suggest there are as few as six to eight vaquitas remaining. Although the new acoustic detections might reflect multiple recordings of the same animals, they offer hope of a larger population than previously estimated.
Conservation Measures and Future Efforts
Key conservation measures have been strengthened, including:
- Maritime patrols
- Net removal
- International cooperation to mitigate illegal fishing
The upcoming Sea Shepherd observation cruises, scheduled from September 3 to 13, aim to assess the vaquita population further. Although there is some optimism regarding these developments, experts stress the need for continued and collective actions. This is especially crucial because of the vaquita’s long gestation period.
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