Vaquita Porpoise
(Phocoena sinus)
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
CURRENT THREATS
CURRENT STATUS
Fewer than 10 vaquitas were identified in the most recent population survey, down from an estimated 600+ in the late 1990s. The primary threat is entanglement in illegal gillnets.
SPECIES OVERVIEW
The vaquita porpoise is found only in the northern Gulf of California. Although most porpoises live in colder northern waters, vaquitas survive in a much warmer and highly productive marine environment shaped by strong currents and nutrient-rich sediment. Their larger dorsal fins and long flippers likely help them release excess body heat.
Vaquitas have always been rare, but their future depends on removing gillnets from the small area where they live. With science-guided solutions and strong collaboration with local communities and partners, there is still hope for recovery.
SPECIES FACTS
The vaquita is the smallest porpoise in the world, reaching about 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) in length and weighing up to 120 pounds (about 55 kilograms). Shy and elusive, these animals live only in the northern part of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. As top predators, they help maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
- Vaquitas were first recognized as a distinct species in 1958.
- They are easy to recognize by the dark rings around their eyes and the unique markings on their faces.
- The vaquita is also known as the vaquita marina. “Vaquita” means “little cow” in Spanish, and “vaquita marina” means “little sea cow.”
- Vaquitas are polydactylous, which means they have an extra digit in each flipper.
- Unlike most porpoises, which live in colder waters, vaquitas survive in a much warmer habitat where temperatures can rise above 90°F (32°C) in the summer and fall.
SPECIES RANGE
The vaquita’s entire range is about 4,000 km2, nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island.
A Marine Mammal on the Brink of Extinction
Vaquitas have always been rare, but their numbers have dropped sharply in recent decades. The greatest threat remains entanglement in illegal gillnets set for totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi), a large fish whose swim bladder is sold on the black market. These nets are often used in the same waters where vaquitas live, putting the species at constant risk.
Recent survey data estimated that about 7 to 10 vaquitas remain, including mothers and calves, showing that the species is still reproducing. Most are found within the Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA), a small protected zone in the Upper Gulf of California where concrete deterrent blocks and regular patrols are intended to keep gillnets out. Yet 2025 research shows vaquitas are moving beyond this zone into unprotected waters, which makes expanding protection even more urgent.
The Totoaba Trade
The illegal totoaba trade continues to drive the use of gillnets that trap and kill vaquitas. Dried totoaba swim bladders can sell for thousands of dollars on the black market, fueling illegal fishing in the same waters where vaquitas live. But there is a path forward. Lasting recovery depends on solutions that protect both marine life and local livelihoods. By working alongside local fishers to expand sustainable, vaquita-safe fishing practices, we can help protect the ocean, support coastal communities, and give the vaquita a real chance for survival. Recovery is only possible through strong community partnership.
The vaquita’s future depends on action now, and together, we can give them that chance.
THE THREATS
Vaquitas face one immediate and serious threat: entanglement in illegal gillnets. These nets, often set for the totoaba trade, put vaquitas at constant risk in the small area where they live. Removing gillnets from their habitat is essential to giving the species a chance to recover.
Reason for Hope
Despite their critically low numbers, there is still reason for hope. Recent surveys continue to document living vaquitas, including mothers, calves, and young animals. Acoustic detections and visual sightings suggest that the species is still reproducing and may be using a slightly wider range than previously understood. Genetic studies indicate that, even with so few individuals, vaquitas retain enough diversity to recover if bycatch can be eliminated and their habitat protected.
Signs of Progress:
- Mothers with calves were sighted again in 2025
- Studies show vaquitas retain the diversity needed to recover once threats are removed
- Detections outside the Zero Tolerance Area in 2025 indicate a somewhat wider range than previously documented, possibly inhabiting areas that have not been regularly surveyed
WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHY
Operation Esperanza: A Mission of Hope
To help save the vaquita, NMMF created Operation Esperanza (“hope” in Spanish), a strategic plan within our global initiative, Operation GRACE. This effort outlines how science, technology, and community partnerships can work together to secure a future for the world’s most endangered marine mammal. Although funding for Operation Esperanza was cut, the plan remains in place and can be activated as soon as support becomes available.
How the Plan Works
Acoustic Monitoring
Researchers have long used underwater recorders to detect vaquita clicks. NMMF’s plan builds on that work by developing smart acoustic buoys that can identify vaquitas in real time, relay data quickly, and help alert teams to nearby vessels.
Drone-Based Health Assessments
We began development of SEAHAWC, an AI-enabled drone designed to identify individual vaquitas and assess their health without disturbing the animals. The plan also includes training local community members to operate this technology, supporting lasting local protection.
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
During recent field efforts, our scientists collected hundreds of eDNA samples across the vaquita’s range, capturing genetic material from seawater to detect their presence and understand habitat use. The next step is to analyze these samples, which could reveal critical insights into distribution, genetic diversity, and where protection efforts can be most effective.
Community Engagement
At the heart of the plan is collaboration with local fishers and community partners to promote vaquita-safe fishing practices and sustainable alternatives. These partnerships would create lasting protection for both the species and the people who share its waters.
Lessons from the Past: VaquitaCPR
In 2017, NMMF and global partners launched VaquitaCPR (Conservation, Protection, & Recovery), a bold, first-of-its-kind effort to rescue vaquitas by caring for them temporarily in a protected area. The goal was ambitious: to provide refuge until it was safe for them to return to the wild. The mission demonstrated extraordinary collaboration and scientific expertise.
Although vaquitas proved highly sensitive to human care, the project generated valuable scientific knowledge that continues to shape rescue, rehabilitation, and protection strategies for endangered species worldwide. The lessons learned informed the design of Operation Esperanza and continue to guide work under Operation GRACE.
For a deeper look, you can explore the full details of the rescue plan and the scientific paper summarizing the project and its key findings.
Operation GRACE: A Global Commitment
Building on the lessons from VaquitaCPR, Operation GRACE (Global Rescue of At-Risk Cetaceans and Ecosystems) is now a cornerstone of NMMF’s international conservation work. It brings together science, technology, medicine, and community partnerships to protect the world’s most endangered dolphins, whales, and porpoises around the world.
The vaquita remains at the heart of this mission, representing both what is at stake and what is still possible.
Spotlight on Sea of Shadows
The 2019 National Geographic documentary Sea of Shadows brought global attention to the vaquita’s story by following investigators, scientists, journalists, and the Mexican Navy as they confronted illegal fishing and wildlife trafficking. The film highlights the human courage behind conservation and underscores why global awareness and action are essential to saving the species. Watch the film here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
What Your Support Enables
With renewed funding, Operation Esperanza could:
- Expand acoustic and drone monitoring to locate and track vaquitas in real time
- Use eDNA and genetic analysis to guide conservation and identify priority areas
- Empower local communities through training and sustainable fishing initiatives
- Advance non-invasive technologies that can help endangered species worldwide
A Shared Path Forward
Protecting the vaquita depends on both science and community. Working alongside Mexican partners, marine scientists, and international organizations, NMMF is helping build sustainable solutions to protect the vaquita and the biodiversity of the northern Gulf of California.
Saving the vaquita isn’t the work of scientists alone. It depends on communities, global citizens, and people around the world who believes extinction is not an option. Together, we can change the vaquita’s story, from the brink of extinction to a symbol of hope for generations to come.
