The number of vaquitas continues to decline and extinction within a year is almost certain. The remaining specimens may only be six.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himThe number of vaquitas continues to decline and, according to a new study, there may be only six surviving specimens.
The research was recently published in the Royal Society Open Science and confirmed theextinction of the species within a yearunless quick action is taken.
A threaten porpoises the smallest in the world inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico are the nets used for illegal fishing for totoaba, a marine fish whose swim bladder is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The use of these nets has been banned since 2015 but fishermen continue their activities regardless of the legislation: from March 2016 to March 2019, 10 vaquitas were found killed by the nets, in which they end up by mistake.
To be able to count the vaquitas still alive, the researchers started acoustic monitoring. They found that 2017% of the specimens were killed in 48 and a further 47% of vaquitas died in 2018: today the surviving specimens could be from 6 to 19.
The world's most endangered marine mammal, the #vaquita, is now literally on the brink of extinction due to bycatch in an illegal fishery. We estimate only 9 remained in summer 2018 (confidence interval 6-19). Deaths continuing, *immediate* action needed. https://t.co/SacfgOgbf0 pic.twitter.com/EU1ADPplMz
- Len Thomas (@len_thom) July 31, 2019
- authors of the study however, they do not give up and they believe it is still possible to save the vaquitas: however, action must be taken immediately.
Len Thomas, co-author of the research, argues that ending illegal fishing immediately could save the species:
There are many cases of other species recovering from a low number of inhabitants. If we stop illegal fishing, they could bounce back.
Every wasted day makes a difference. The key thing is that now we need action and we still have a few days - said the researcher.
Also from Sea Shepherd comes a message of hope:
No matter how low the numbers are, there is still hope for the species if we can keep them safe. Sea Shepherd is doing everything possible to ensure that the area remains free of nets.
As long as a vaquita remains, we will continue to fight for them.
"“Based on the uncertainty inherent in the models, the number could be as few as six vaquitas” Support Sea Shepherd's work to protect marine wildlife: https://t.co/rTYqUhO2WV #OpMilagro #SavetheVaquita #FortheOceans
— Sea Shepherd (@seashepherd) July 31, 2019
The problem is that whether illegal fishing continues as has happened up to now, there will really be nothing left to do for the vaquita.
Read also:
- Fantastic murals for endangered marine animals (PHOTO)
- At risk of extinction as many as 600 species of animals more than expected. I study
- Leonardo Di Caprio mobilizes to save Vaquita: historic agreement with Mexico
Tatiana Maselli
