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Vaquita Sighting - October 2008
I never dreamed I would be in a position to even see vaquita, let alone film the animal in the wild. The stage was set, perfect weather for seeing vaquita. -
Sighting from the DSJ Jordan
Scientist Bob Pitman come off a break, and make his was toward his station. He spotted Vaquita through the giant "big-eyes". -
Voice of Mexico
An interview with scientist Lorenzo Rojas Bracho about Vaquita. -
Listening for Vaquita
Scientists Jay Barlow and Jonathan Gordan give a background about how they listen for Vaquita.
The Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is a rare species of porpoise endemic to the northern extreme of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. It is the most critically endangered of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) with an estimated 150 animals remaining.
The main threat to the survival of the vaquita is incidental catches in fishing gear, especially gillnets set for shrimp and fish. The shrimp is destined for the US market where it is now that nations most popular seafood choice.
Vaquita aren’t the intended target of the gillnet fishery, they are merely the bycatch of local fishers trying to earn a living and feed their families. For the fishers of El Golfo de Santa Clara, San Felipe and Puerto Penasco, the vaquita is collateral damage.
For the vaquita, these invisible walls of netting cause them to become hopelessly entangled and they quickly drown when they cannot reach the surface to breath.
3 comments ↓
Hello. Thank you very much and congratulations for capturing the animal on film. I hope it survives.
Thanks Alejandro! We are launching a new site dedicated to Vaquita in March 2010 – http://www.vaquita.tv Chris
congratulations, thank you, lt us know more about your efortts and work in your researchings.
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