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Hope For The Vaquita: New Sightings Signal Progress In The Fight Against Extinction | World Animal News
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This week brought a rare moment of hope for ocean conservationists: new footage confirms that the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal, is still surviving, even as the species teeters on the brink of extinction.
Recent surveys conducted in Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California documented between seven and ten vaquitas, including several calves. For the first time since monitoring began, no illegal gillnets were found in the area, a major milestone in efforts to protect the species. The new footage was captured by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in collaboration with Sea Shepherd.
The discovery is a powerful reminder that activism works. Years of pressure from conservation groups and the international community have pushed for stronger protections, tighter fishing regulations, and the removal of deadly gillnets that have driven the vaquita to near extinction. These latest sightings prove that if given the chance, the species can recover.
In August, a report from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), established under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), revealed that Mexico continues to struggle with enforcement of existing fishing laws. Although gillnets were officially banned in 2020, illegal fishing for shrimp and totoaba, a fish whose bladder is trafficked on the black market, persisted at troubling levels.
The vaquita’s survival remains uncertain, but these new sightings offer hope that recovery is possible if meaningful action continues. Conservationists are urging Mexico to fully enforce its existing bans, expand surveillance programs, and ensure the permanent removal of illegal nets from the Upper Gulf of California.
The vaquita has shown incredible resilience against all odds. With continued vigilance, international cooperation, and stronger protection measures, there is still time to prevent the extinction of the vaquita. Although the new sightings bring hope, the fight is far from over.
