Two healthy vaquita porpoises were seen during a marine survey in the Gulf of California, authorities on Mexico and marine conservation group Sea Shepherd confirmed this week.
The sighting happened in September during a joint observation cruise by conservationists and the Mexican government.
“We saw them without binoculars. We saw them with our own eyes. They were playing. They looked healthy, and it was a magical moment,” Julian Escutia‑Rodríguez, the executive director of Sea Hepherd, said.
Vaquitas are the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoises. They live only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of California. Years of illegal gillnet fishing, mostly for the valuable totoaba fish, have brought the species to the edge of extinction.
“7-10 Vaquitas! New calves spotted as well. The best news was that there were no gill nets seen or found during the survey,” Sea Shepherd said on Thursday.
The sighting gives new hope, Mexican authorities said, adding that the decline in vaquita numbers has stopped due to improved surveillance and international cooperation.
Vessel traffic in the vaquita’s protected area near Mexico, known as the Zero Tolerance Area, has dropped by 97.6% in the past few years, from 171 boats to only 4.
The Mexican Navy and Sea Shepherd have been working together to remove illegal gillnets and monitor fishing activities. Over 800 satellite tracking devices have been installed on local boats to check compliance.
Navy forces on land now also inspect fishing gear and catch to prevent illegal fishing.
Despite the progress, experts warn that the vaquita is still critically endangered. Continued protection and international support are needed to save these last remaining animals.
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