Attempts at Saving the Vaquita

The effects that the fishing industry has on various species in the ocean has been in the news for years.  The vaquita is a tiny porpoise whose population has dwindled to around 60 individuals mostly due to becoming entangled in gillnets and drowning.  Scientists are considering taking action in an attempt to intervene to assist in growing the population again.  Capturing a few to breed in captivity and release back into the wild is an option, though not a fool proof one.

“I don’t like this idea at all,” says Omar Vidal, director general of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mexico in Mexico City. “The risk of killing a vaquita while catching them is very high. With only 50 or 60 animals left, we can’t play with that.”

Even if scientists are able to successfully capture and transport the vaquitas, there is no guarantee they would reproduce in captivity.  So all of the risk could be for nothing.  While those involved debate on if this plan is the best plan of action or not, the gillnets are still impacting the species.  Another factor is fishermen poaching another fish that coincides closely with the vaquita habitat.  Though the Mexican government has banned the gillnets from the area, the poachers still remain a threat to the species.

http://www.iucn-csg.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/CIRVA-7-Final-Report.pdf