Monday May 8, 2023 – 1pm EDT
Join us live HERE for the kick-off of the 2023 Vaquita Survey on Monday May 8th at 1pm EDT.
The Vaquita Porpoise is an endemic species that exists only in a small region of Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California. It is the most endangered marine mammal in the world, and this 2023 survey will be the most updated scientific documentation of the Vaquita population.
The 2023 survey is a partnership between Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) and the Natural Protected Areas Commission of Mexico (CONANP) with logistical assistance from the Navy of Mexico. Fourteen highly trained and experienced observers will join Dr. Barbara Taylor, who brings more than 20 years of experience in protecting the Vaquita and other species of marine mammals around the world.
The virtual program on Monday May 8th will include Pritam Singh, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Sea Shepherd, Humberto Adan Pena’ Fuentes, Commissioner of CONANP (National Commission of National Protected Areas) and Maria Luisa Albores Gonzalez, Secretary of SEMARNAT (Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.)
The survey will locate and track Vaquitas from two ships, the Sea Shepherd vessel M/V Seahorse and a private vessel: Sirena de la Noche. Both will be used as observation platforms to estimate the population size of the living Vaquitas. Daily operations include an acoustic monitoring component that will assess where and how active vaquitas are in different areas of the Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA). After the survey, the scientific team will generate an assessment of the status of the Vaquita population for release in early June.
