Fewer than 10 Vaquita Porpoises Remain: Can the Species Be Saved?

Key Takeaways:

• The vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal, has fewer than 10 individuals left.
• Illegal gillnet fishing for the totoaba fish is the primary cause of their decline.
• Conservation efforts focus on alternative fishing gear, reducing demand, and international pressure.
• Recent sightings of calves offer a glimmer of hope for the species’ survival.

With an estimated population of fewer than 10, the vaquita porpoise is on the brink of extinction. This tiny marine mammal, found only in Mexico’s Gulf of California, has seen a catastrophic 98% population decline in just three decades.

The main threat is illegal gillnet fishing for the endangered totoaba fish. Totoaba swim bladders are a high-value delicacy in China, fetching up to $10,000 each. Vaquitas, similar in size to totoaba, drown as bycatch in these nets. Despite a 2017 ban on gillnets in the region and international trade prohibitions under CITES, the practice continues. In March 2025, Mexican authorities seized over 9 km of illegal nets containing 72 dead totoaba.

As the species teeters on the edge, its fate is under review at the ongoing CITES conference. Conservationists are urgently pushing for solutions.

The Challenge of Alternative Fishing Gear

Mexican scientist Lorenzo Rojas Bracho, with over 30 years of vaquita conservation experience, states the core problem is the gillnet.

“It’s a vicious circle. To save the vaquita, you need to eliminate bycatch, and to eliminate bycatch, you have to eliminate the gillnet — and that has not happened,” he told CNN.

His research shows little progress in transitioning local fishers to vaquita-safe gear, which is often costlier and less efficient. Effective enforcement of the gillnet ban is also lacking.

“You have to support the communities, and the communities have to support you to reach an agreement,” he said, emphasising the need for compensation.

While deterrents like seafloor concrete blocks that snag nets have shown success, they cover only a small part of the vaquita’s habitat. The designated “zero tolerance” no-fishing zone is also insufficient, as vaquitas roam beyond its borders.

Rojas Bracho finds hope in Mexico’s new administration, inaugurated in 2024, which has shown early political will to address the crisis. However, time is critically short.

“This is the best moment in terms of policies and administration, but a very bad moment for the number of vaquita left.”

Combating Demand for Totoaba

Conservation efforts must also target the demand driving the illegal trade. Paola Mosig Reidl of Traffic NGO highlights that reducing demand in China is key, alongside stronger international enforcement.

“The illegal totoaba trade spans source, transit and destination countries, so coordinated action can significantly enhance impact,” she said.

One controversial proposal is “conservation farming”—allowing legal export of farmed totoaba to undercut the poaching market. While studies suggest it could help, experts warn it requires flawless traceability to prevent laundering of wild-caught fish.

International Pressure and Glimmers of Hope

Global action has ramped up pressure. In 2023, CITES sanctioned Mexico for inadequate protection efforts, and the International Whaling Commission issued its first-ever extinction alert for the vaquita.

Mosig Reidl notes such frameworks raise awareness and reinforce political commitment. CITES acknowledges Mexico’s recent progress but stresses the need for “sustained effort and continued vigilance.”

Critically, the vaquita population has not declined further in the last two years. The recent sighting of juveniles and calves is a significant positive sign.

“If you have juveniles, that means they survived the most difficult years in their lifetime … and that you still see healthy animals producing calves. That’s something to be happy about,” said Rojas Bracho.

The fight to save the vaquita is a race against time, hinging on local enforcement, international cooperation, and the fragile resilience of the few remaining porpoises.