"The Mexican government has officially abandoned the policy of maintaining a fishing-free zone around the last ten or so remaining vaquita marina"
There are less than a dozen Vaquita Marina porpoises left in the world and they are only found in a small area in the Upper Gulf of California. They should be looked at with cultural/national pride like the Panda is to China or the Bald Eagle is to the United States. Instead, the Vaquita has dwindled in numbers (from what I remember, there were around 30 left when I was in college about a decade ago).
Now, the Mexican government has ended the fishing-free zones that are important to keeping their numbers up and protect the species from fishing nets and other hazards poised by fishing vessels within the tiny area that has been protected.
The world's most endangered marine mammel is nearing extinction and the government that could stop it, wont.
One conservation expert who is familiar with the case, but who cannot be quoted by name for fear of repercussions, said the new rules “imply not protecting the vaquita.” "
“It appears that fisheries authorities want to drive the vaquita to extinction,” the expert said.
Two ships from the conservationist group Sea Shepherd have worked with Mexican marines to try to grab banned fishing nets from the area, but they are frequently outnumbered and attacked by fishermen, who have no fear at all of the marines.
Read the article from Mark Stevenson of the Associated Press :
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mexico-abandons-fishing-free-zone-endangered-porpoise-78853079
Goals of Port Sundries
Educate the public about marine conservation and how marine conservation is important to all other ecosystems on Earth and all of humanity.
Provide basic sailing resources and teach how the hobby and lifestyle can adapt to assist marine conservation.
Share ecofriendly and sustainable methods of coastal and island travel and tourism.
Share the joy of life at sea, love of ocean adventure, a fondness for culture, and the enjoyment of nautical history.
If you would like to help us with these goals, please follow and consider upvoting this and our other posts. We are always thankful for those you upvote, follow, or repost.
Help defend the oceans. Support sustainable fishing and aquaculture/agriculture practices. Don't pollute your local waterways. Donate to your local marine conservation charity.
🐬🐬🐬Donate to the Dolphin Project 🐬🐬🐬https://www.dolphinproject.com/donate/
Dolphin Project is a non-profit charitable organization, dedicated to the welfare and protection of dolphins worldwide. Founded by Richard (Ric) O’Barry on Earth Day, April 22, 1970, the organization aims to educate the public about captivity and, where feasible, retire and/or release captive dolphins.
The mission of Dolphin Project is to end dolphin exploitation and slaughter, as dolphins are routinely captured, harassed, slaughtered and sold into captivity around the world – all in the name of profit. Dolphin Project works not only to halt these slaughters, but also to rehabilitate captive dolphins for retirement and/or release, investigate and advocate for economic alternatives to dolphin slaughter, and to put a permanent end to dolphin captivity.
Port Sundries is not affiliated with Dolphin Project but supports their goal 100%.
Follow us @portsundries for more Marine Conservation, Sea Life, and Sailing News.
Image courtesy of presencianoticias.com and hola-atizapan.com