Vaquita on Verge of Extinction in Mexico
Recent Developments
01May to September 2025: acoustic and visual monitoring in the Upper Gulf of California confirmed sightings of 7 to 10 vaquitas and documented new calves.
022025 survey summaries reported that the population has not shown a major decline in recent years, with expert estimates placing roughly 6 to 19 individuals remaining.
032026 reporting highlighted continued concern that illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba remains the central threat, despite ongoing patrols and removal efforts.
04CITES-related coverage in 2026 said Mexico’s anti-illegal-fishing efforts have improved since 2023, but sustained vigilance is still considered essential.
Interventions
- Mexican government and partner scientific teams are conducting acoustic and visual monitoring surveys in the Upper Gulf of California.
- Sea Shepherd and government-linked patrols continue removing illegal gillnets and monitoring vaquita habitat in and around the Zero Tolerance Area.
- Protected-zone enforcement in the Zero Tolerance Area remains a core intervention aimed at keeping gillnets out of the vaquita’s main habitat.
What Works
- Strict elimination of gillnets in vaquita habitat is the key evidence-based measure, because entanglement in these nets is the direct cause of most vaquita deaths.
- Continuous patrols, net removal, and surveillance have reduced illegal fishing pressure in the protected zone and appear to have helped slow the decline.
- Population monitoring that identifies calves and breeding females is useful for tracking whether the species can stabilize at very low numbers if bycatch is prevented.
How to Help
- Support credible conservation organizations working on vaquita monitoring and gillnet removal.
- Advocate for stronger enforcement against illegal totoaba fishing and for continued protection of the Zero Tolerance Area.
- Raise awareness about wildlife trafficking and the demand for totoaba swim bladders.
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(8)
Viva Vaquita works by building public support for vaquita conservation and promoting collaboration among conservation organizations. Its site states that partner organizations combine conservation expertise and resources to fight for vaquita survival, and it frames the solution as removing gillnets so the population can recover.
VaquitaCPR focuses on emergency conservation planning and collaborative rescue-oriented measures for the species. Its stated work includes coordinating with conservation partners and responding to habitat threats that increase gillnet risk. The initiative was created to help keep the vaquita from disappearing forever and is tied to broader conservation and recovery efforts.
Sea Shepherd deploys crews for direct action at sea in the Upper Gulf of California, removing over 1,200 illegal gillnets since 2015, achieving a 95% reduction in fishing inside the Zero Tolerance Area using thermal drones for a 10-mile monitoring footprint per ship, and combating ghost gear that indiscriminately kills vaquitas and other marine life.
IWC issues an Extinction Alert for vaquita, conducts and compiles population abundance assessments (e.g., estimating 6-19 remaining post-2018 surveys), monitors decline rates from gillnet bycatch, and provides data-driven recommendations to support urgent conservation actions in the northern Gulf of California.
