Vaquita Porpoise (Phocoena sinus)

The vaquita porpoise is the most endangered marine mammal on the planet with an estimated 10 animals remaining. With black eye patches around their eyes and a cute black mouth, they resemble another endangered species, the Panda. They can be found in the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems. The vaquita is the world’s smallest porpoise and cetacean. They are known as vaquita marina in Spanish, vaquita is Spanish for “little cow”.

Greatest threats to their Population​

Bycatch in Fishing Gear

Vaquitas face a critical threat from bycatch in fishing gear, particularly gillnets used for shrimp and finfish. Between 1997 and 2019, these gillnets resulted in the tragic deaths of hundreds of vaquitas. Their population plummeted from approximately 600 to fewer than 20 individuals.

Illegal Totaba Fishing

While the Mexican government banned gillnet fisheries, illegal fishing for the totoaba fish, prized for its valuable swim bladders in Chinese markets, continues. The use of gillnets for totoaba fishing results in the accidental entanglement and drowning of vaquitas.

Habitat Degradation

The vaquita's natural habitat is increasingly threatened due to human activities, including habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Preserving their unique environment is crucial for the survival of this species.

The NMMF IN ACTION

The NMMF responded to the urgent call to rescue vaquitas from extinction with VaquitaCPR, a multi-institutional international effort to rescue the remaining vaquitas and temporarily protect them in human care while their environment was rid of gillnets. The rescue mission was featured in the award-winning National Geographic documentary film called Sea of Shadows. Although the rescue attempt was not successful, the team has not given up on vaquitas. Colleagues at NOAA have been studying the vaquita’s genetic makeup, and there is evidence that the species could rebound from such a small population size. 

We continue to support the most critical conservation actions to protect vaquitas including scientific surveys and acoustic monitoring to count and track vaquitas, gillnet removal efforts, and community-based alternative fishing gear development. With the lessons learned from vaquitas, the NMMF established Operation GRACE, the Global Rescue of At-Risk Cetaceans and Ecosystems, building on a community-based conservation approach to save endangered dolphins, porpoises, and whales around the world.