Welfare of Critically Endangered Vaquita Porpoises

The vaquita is the most critically endangered marine mammal — perhaps fewer than 10 remain — with survival now depending entirely on removal of gillnets from their range.

Key Facts

Fewer than 10 vaquitas are estimated to survive as of 2024
Vaquitas are endemic to a small area of the northern Gulf of California
All recent vaquita deaths have been from drowning in illegal gillnets targeting totoaba fish
Totoaba swim bladders sell for up to 50,000 dollars on black markets, driving intensive illegal fishing
Mexican Navy patrols and international pressure have reduced but not eliminated gillnet use in the vaquita refuge

Welfare Considerations

Vaquita welfare is inseparable from survival: each individual death from gillnet drowning is a welfare catastrophe in a population this small. Gillnet entanglement causes drowning over minutes — a deeply distressing death for air-breathing mammals. The welfare and conservation case for complete gillnet elimination from the vaquita refuge is overwhelming. Every day of continued illegal fishing reduces both the probability of species survival and causes individual suffering.

What You Can Do

Donate to Sea Shepherd and WWF vaquita protection and patrol funding
Avoid buying totoaba products which drive the illegal fishing killing vaquitas
Advocate for enhanced US-Mexico cooperation on northern Gulf of California enforcement
Share vaquita crisis information to build political pressure for effective protection