Mexico starts campaign to save endangered porpoise

Mexico said Wednesday it will invest 163 million pesos ($16 million) to save a highly endangered species of porpoise in the upper Gulf of California, asking reluctant fishermen to adopt safer methods or give up their trade entirely.

Scientists say the population of the vaquita marina — Spanish for “little sea cow” — has dwindled to 150 or fewer from more than 500 a decade ago.

Plans include paying fishermen to avoid the porpoise’s habitat or give up drag nets that drown dozens of the shy, dolphinlike animals each year. Some will even be paid to stop fishing forever.

Click here for the full article.

Hooray for Mexico!  I sincerely applaud you and your efforts.  Marine mammals are in a lot of trouble, and we’re going to lose them if we don’t work hard (and perhaps spend a lot of money) to save them.  Read this article, Quarter of world’s whales and dolphins face extinction, for journalistic proof.

Does anyone else think the name “little sea cow” is a completely adorable moniker for a porpoise?

-MJ Schindler, aka Kitty Mowmow

Tagged as: Endangered Species, Fishing, Gulf of California, Latin America, Mexico, Porpoises, Vaquita Marina