Mexico has faced increasing pressure in recent years to protect a nearly extinct porpoise that lives only in the uppermost part of the Gulf of California. As part of those efforts, officials say they will expand a no-fishing zone.
Mexico’s environmental ministry will expand a 110-square-mile protected area known as the zero-tolerance zone, where gillnet fishing is banned to protect the estimated 10remaining vaquita marina porpoises.
Officials say two sides of the area will be extended by about two and half miles. In October, the Navy will install more than 200 additional concrete blocksoutfitted with 11-foot tall hooks; 193 were installed last year. They’re meant to snag illegal nets - especially those used to catch a huge endangered fish called the totoaba, whose swim bladder is valuable on the black market in China for its purported medicinal properties. Those nets also trap and drown vaquitas and are considered the leading threat to the species’ survival.
Officials say the blocks combined with increased monitoring of the zero tolerance zone has significantly reduced illegal fishing there.
Mexico has recently faced sanctions from the international trade body CITES, which were lifted in April after the groups governing body accepted a new plan from Mexico. The United States is also looking at the possibility of sanctioning Mexico in order to protect the vaquita.
While there are only an estimated 10 left, scientists believe the population is still healthy and could rebound if its habitat were free of nets.
