'Aquatic Cocaine' Driving Tiny Porpoise To Extinction
'Aquatic Cocaine' Driving Tiny Porpoise To Extinction
Sep 26, 2016 @ 07:09 PM
Mallory Pickett ,
Contributor
The vaquita is a tiny, adorable porpoise that lives in Mexicos Gulf of California. Less than five feet long and just 100 pounds, its about half the size of a bottlenose dolphin. Thick dark markings circle its mouth and eyes, giving it the cute/comical look of a kindergartener who got into his mothers make-up.
This little cetacean is new to scientists: it wasnt officially discovered until 1950, when an ecologist named Ken Norris found a tiny vaquita skull on the beach in Baja. After that first skull sighting it wasnt until 1985, thirty years later, that a scientist actually saw one in the flesh.
But just as we are getting to know this elusive animal, we may already have to say goodbye. In 1997 the first comprehensive population survey counted just 567 vaquitas. This year, population surveys estimate only 60 vaquitas remain. Its officially the worlds most endangered marine mammal.
Decades of fishing with gillnetsvertical, extremely effective fishing netsis mainly responsible for the vaquitas decimation. Around 2009 it seemed like progress was being made with new regulations and new research iniatives, but now theres a new threat to the vaquitas recovery: totoaba fish bladders.
More:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mallorypickett/2016/09/26/aquatic-cocaine-driving-tiny-porpoise-to-extinction/#2afdf2df136a
Environment & Energy:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1127105309
[center]