Why is the Vaquita endangered?
A baby Vaquita
The Vaquita was first discovered by western scientists in 1958. Its population has been declining 15% each year since the 1940's, decreasing by more than 50% in the last three years. But its natural predator, the shark, is not its biggest threat.
In the 1940s people began using gill nets to find a fish called Totoaba, which is now extinct. These gill nets are still used today, and many vaquitas get caught in the nets. Between 30-55 are lost each year. Other than commercial fishing, the Vaquitas are also affected by environmental pollution and habitat degradation because they have such a small habitat. Rivers being dammed upstream also cause for less freshwater in the bay, giving the vaquitas less habitat. Since there are so few Vaquitas there can be problems with inbreeding.
The Vaquita was considered endangered since the late 70s, but has been critically endangered since 1997.
In the 1940s people began using gill nets to find a fish called Totoaba, which is now extinct. These gill nets are still used today, and many vaquitas get caught in the nets. Between 30-55 are lost each year. Other than commercial fishing, the Vaquitas are also affected by environmental pollution and habitat degradation because they have such a small habitat. Rivers being dammed upstream also cause for less freshwater in the bay, giving the vaquitas less habitat. Since there are so few Vaquitas there can be problems with inbreeding.
The Vaquita was considered endangered since the late 70s, but has been critically endangered since 1997.