gringorio
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The Vaquita Pen, San Felipe
Here's a video I made a few days ago of the currently un-used vaquita capture pen off-shore of San Felipe. The capture effort has stopped due to the
death by stress of a female vaquita captured by VaquitaCPR. The vaquita is a porpoise endemic to the northern Gulf of California. It has become
critically endangered (maybe 30 left) because fishermen set gillnets for the (also) endangered totoaba, a species of sea bass. The fishermen sell the
totoaba's swim bladder for high prices to dealers in China because of its purported medicinal qualities ("cocaine of the sea"). The vaquita's primary
threat and the reason for their dramatic population decline is drowning in those gillnets. #VaquitaCPR decided that they would try and catch the few
remaining vaquita, place them in the pen and hope they'd breed. VaquitaCPR first caught a juvenile and separated her from her mother before releasing
her. Then they caught an adult female which promptly died from capture myopathy. The real and only solution is full enforcement of the gillnet ban and
removal of all gillnets from vaquita habitat.
Here's the video of the pen: Vaquita Capture Pen
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David K
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Thanks Greg.
Who in the world thought that putting free-wild animals, with the entire sea to live in, in that tiny place, was a good idea? 
Stress indeed!
A couple of navy ships on patrol to enforce the law should have done it?
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BornFisher
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Pen looks fine for a fish. Not so fine for a mammal.
Rooting for the vaquita, maybe there is an undiscovered pod somewhere. There are rumors!!
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."
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ncampion
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Looks like another well intentioned bad idea. I hope for the best.
[Edited on 12-4-2017 by ncampion]
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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Russ
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It is a sad situation all around, for the porpoise, fishermen, ecosystems and the inept government programs . Mexico really must rethink their
sponsorship of netting in the SOC and probable other areas also. What a huge change I've witnessed in my short 25+ years here. In those years the West
coast of the US has mostly worked out some good programs and most fisheries are improving. From my limited knowledge at least. I know the US can do
more and progress is slow. Somehow there is enough funds to support some programs and enforcement. Some good laws are here also but the funding and
corruption really have ruined any hope for the laws to work. These thoughts and been discussed many many times so I'll stop my rant.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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sancho
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Gringorio, Reading recently Sea Shepard is not in favor
the capture of Vaquitas? Am I remembering that correct?
Not that you speak for SS nor are the pens Sea Shepards
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gringorio
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Quote: Originally posted by sancho  | Gringorio, Reading recently Sea Shepard is not in favor
the capture of Vaquitas? Am I remembering that correct?
Not that you speak for SS nor are the pens Sea Shepards |
Sancho, that is correct. Sea Shepherd is not in favor of capture, but instead removing the illegal totoaba gillnets. As some may now, there are two
ships there now working 24/7 to find and remove the nets. A third ship will soon be joining the effort. I'll be heading back in January to fly drones
for them.
I wish that the millions spent by VaquitaCPR was spent on net removal patrols and job-training programs for impacted fishermen. As Russ stated, it is
a sad situation for all involved.
Here is a link to Sea Shepherds position on the Vaquita: Paul Watson Writes About Sea Sheperds Position on the Vaquita Issue
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caj13
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just saw this on CNN
pretty good 24 minute summary
http://money.cnn.com/interactive/news/vaquita-business-of-ex...
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gringorio
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I did too... Really good and accurate reporting. It's going to be really intense this next totoaba season!
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caj13
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almost makes me think, as i retire, maybe get a new hobby, crusing around the SOC. looking for gill nets!
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gringorio
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| Quote: Originally posted by caj13 | | almost makes me think, as i retire, maybe get a new hobby, crusing around the SOC. looking for gill nets! |
Haha! Be careful, it's getting a bit tense out there 
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sancho
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What sort of a reception does Sea Shepard boats get when they
refuel, I presume at the commercial pier in the San Felipe Harbor? Not sure I would sport a Sea Shepard shirt strolling
down the SF Malecon
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