China's craze for 'aquatic cocaine' is driving two marine species to extinction. This is how the swim bladder of the vaquita, a small porpoise, and of the totoaba, a large Mexican fish is defined.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
China's craze for 'aquatic cocaine' is bringing two marine species toextinction. This is how the swim bladder of the totoaba, a large Mexican fish. Fishing for totoaba unfortunately endangers the survival of the vaquita, a small porpoise that gets trapped in nets.
In China the swim bladder of the totoaba is required both as a delicious food and as a powerful natural remedy. Its price is very high: a swim bladder can cost up to 2000 euros. Here is the reason why The Guardian he thought of defining the swim bladder as a real aquatic cocaine.
There are now very few examples of totoaba e little cow. Here, then, is that environmentalists and animal rights activists hope that the meeting of the international convention on endangered species (CITES) will soon take severe measures on the issue. The vaquita is unfortunately classified as an endangered species that could disappear in 2016.
The totoaba swim bladder is still sold smoothly in Hong Kong and online. Swim bladders are no longer bought on their own as food or as a natural remedy. The Chinese they buy them as collectibles or as gifts, or they choose them as financial investments. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the swim bladder can be used as a natural remedy for our health, but official science has never confirmed its benefits.
Environmentalists hope that fishing for marine species already at risk of extinction can be stopped. In particular, of the little cow only a few dozen specimens would remain. It is one of the smallest cetaceans in the world and could disappear at any moment.
Fonte foto: National Geographic
Mexico last April decided to ban gillnet fishing in areas that represent vaquita habitats, with a lot of financial aid for fishermen, however, according to environmentalists, this measure would have come too late.
Photo font: The Guardian
Meanwhile, the sale of the dried swim bladder of the totoaba continues in several stores in China, although it is now illegal. Careless fishing and the illegal trade in swim bladders are becoming an increasingly serious problem. We therefore need some urgent interventions who can regulate the situation, punish the guilty and increase controls.
Marta Albè
Photo source: Wikipedia
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