Vaquita Crisis
Why it Matters?
The North American Environmental Commission has held Mexico responsible for pushing the critically endangered vaquita porpoise (only 10 remain) towards extinction. Weak enforcement of bans on illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba in the Gulf of California continues despite international obligations under CITES and trade pressure through USMCA.
What You Should Know?
The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the rarest marine mammal in the world.
It belongs to the porpoise family and is found only in a small region of the Upper Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, in Mexico.
The species is critically endangered, with only about 10 individuals remaining as of 2025.
Its population has declined rapidly due to accidental entanglement in illegal gillnets.
These gillnets are primarily used for catching totoaba fish, whose swim bladder is illegally traded and highly valued in East Asia.
Totoaba Fish
The totoaba is a large marine fish species found exclusively in the northern part of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.
The species can grow up to 2 meters in length and weigh around 100 kg, making it one of the largest fish in the Gulf of California.
It is a Critically Endangered species, listed under CITES Appendix I and the IUCN Red List.
The fish is highly targeted for its swim bladder, known as “maw”, which is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
A single swim bladder can fetch thousands of dollars in the illegal market, making totoaba poaching extremely lucrative.
Illegal gillnets used to catch totoaba are the biggest threat to the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, which often gets entangled and drowns.