Reduction of Protected Areas Raises Concerns
The Mexican government has significantly reduced the protected area for the critically endangered vaquita marina by a staggering 86%. In a move that has sparked outrage among environmentalists, the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Natural Resources, and the Navy have signed an agreement which extends maritime zones in the Upper Gulf of California where gillnets and trap nets are permitted for fishing. These fishing methods are considered the primary threat to this unique marine mammal, endemic to the region. Critics argue that this decision represents a devastating setback for conservation efforts aimed at preserving one of the planet’s most endangered species.
The new agreement, published in the Federal Official Gazette, replaces the existing regulatory framework established in 2020, which had imposed a fishing ban over approximately 11,106 square kilometres to ensure the protection of the vaquita marina. The protected area has now been drastically reduced to just 1,562 square kilometres, meaning that nearly 9,544 square kilometres of marine waters off the coasts of Baja California and Sonora are now exempt from restrictions.
With the new regulations now in effect, both artisanal and commercial fishermen operating in the region, provided they possess the required permits and licenses, can utilise gillnets outside the newly designated perimeter. Furthermore, the agreement creates a transit corridor approximately 350 metres wide that traverses the zero-tolerance zone, where fishing and navigation had previously been prohibited. It also establishes a special use zone where fishing using free diving or semi-autonomous compressor methods will be banned, while reducing the nighttime fishing restriction period by three hours.
Monitoring Compliance and Enforcement
To ensure adherence to these new provisions, all smaller vessels operating in the northern Gulf of California will be required to have a monitoring system installed and operational, which must be tamper-proof. This requirement will also extend to larger vessels authorised to operate within the Gillnet Prohibition Area. For smaller vessels, the installation of the monitoring system will be managed by the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries in collaboration with the Navy. Both agencies have been granted a maximum of 12 months to complete this task, contingent on the relevant budgetary approval.
In light of these changes, Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, has asserted that the adjustment was necessary to safeguard the welfare of local populations. She stated that families reliant on fishing have been adversely affected by frequent fishing bans, a situation that could negatively impact their quality of life. “The goal is to protect the vaquita, but also to ensure that people can live; these are individuals who have resided in the area for generations and are not responsible for the decline in the vaquita population,” she remarked.
Expert Opinions on Conservation Efforts
The document released in the Federal Official Gazette claims that the amendment is based on an analysis of the area that considered historical sighting locations, reports and recommendations from the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita, as well as the viewpoints of the fishing sector. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources announced the establishment of the Expert Committee on Fishing Technologies (ECOFT), which aims to continue the development, testing, and training in capture methods that are safe for marine biodiversity and economically viable for local communities.
Recent scientific estimates indicate that fewer than 10 vaquitas marinas remain, a drastic decline from the 600 individuals recorded in 1997. Specialists and environmental protection organisations warn that the government’s new regulations significantly heighten the risk of extinction for this species in the immediate future. Alejandro Olivera, representative of the Centre for Biological Diversity in Mexico, expressed his outrage: “It is appalling that with so few vaquitas left, the government is dismantling their protection instead of intensifying efforts to save these small porpoises. If this is not reversed, the vaquita will almost certainly vanish, and it will be an extinction that could have been prevented.”
Commitment to Conservation Under Scrutiny
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has reiterated its commitment to the protection of the vaquita marina. It has also indicated plans for a new acoustic and visual monitoring campaign in collaboration with local communities in the Upper Gulf of California, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas, and organisations such as Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Pronatura Noroeste. However, experts consider these measures insufficient and ineffective in the current context. DJ Schubert, a senior wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute, concluded, “The new regulations in Mexico will accelerate the extinction of the vaquita. They contradict entirely what should be done to save a critically endangered species. Mexico must reverse these setbacks and enhance marine surveillance.”