Experts: Mexico's Vaquita porpoise headed toward extinction

According to results of a survey released in the evening by the country's Environment Department, as of December there were probably only about 60 of the shy, elusive creatures left in the upper Gulf of California, the only place where the vaquitas are found.

The vaquitas are threatened primarily by gillnet fishing for the totoaba fish, another endangered species in the area that is hunted for its swim bladder, considered a delicacy in China.

The Mexican, U.S. and Chinese governments need to take urgent and coordinated action to stop the illegal fishing, trafficking and consumption of totoaba products.

[...] if the vaquita goes extinct it would inevitably be a shared responsibility of the three countries.

Vidal called on the Mexican government to essentially ban all commercial fishing in the upper Gulf of California.

At present the Mexican navy and environmental authorities patrol the area, but some legal fishing boats may clandestinely be setting nets for totoaba.

The remaining marine life — the totoaba, shrimp, corvina, sharks, sea turtles —will follow the same path.