Winter’s Hope for the Vaquita

We need your help.  Clearwater Marine Aquarium is launching a global conservation effort to save the vaquita porpoise from extinction.  Found in Mexico’s Gulf of California, the vaquita is the most endangered marine mammal in the world, with less than 100 remaining.  

Vaquita are frequently caught unintentionally by local fishermen using giant fishing nets called “gillnets”, where the vaquitas become entangled and die. Nearly one in every five vaquita fall victim to these gillnets.  These gillnets are being used to catch totoaba fish, also an endangered species, that are poached for their swim bladder. Fishermen can receive up to  $10,000 per kilogram on the swim bladders, believed to have medicinal qualities in China.  Similar nets are also used to catch shrimp, sharks and other fish in the vaquita's home habitat.

The Mexican government is currently in discussions with local fishermen to enact a two year ban on the use of these gillnets. Many fishermen want to help and the Mexican government will compensate the fishermen for their lost earnings during this time.  This two year ban will be the first step in helping the vaquita begin to re-populate and save it from extinction.   

Join Winter, Hope and the team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium to save the vaquita and enact this two year program.  With your help, we can save an entire species that could potentially face extinction in the next few years.  It’s Winter’s Hope that the vaquita will survive and remain in our oceans forever.   

You can help!  Sign here to save the vaquita and be part of the change.  Then share this with your family and friends.  Let’s join together and save this beautiful species.