Results of 2024 Vaquita Survey Released
Updated Analysis of Most Endangered Marine Mammal
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO; June 11, 2024 – Determination to protect the world’s most endangered marine mammal remains undaunted despite the results of the 2024 Vaquita Survey, which were released today in a press conference with Survey leaders, senior Mexican government officials, and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
Survey data shows between 6-8 Vaquita were seen during the 2024 survey which is a decline from the 8 -13 Vaquita seen in 2023. Unlike in 2023 no newly born calves were seen, but one healthy yearling was seen. Visual and acoustic efforts focused on waters in and around the Zero Tolerance Area (ZTA) which is regarded as a stronghold for the remaining vaquitas. Half of the 9 sightings in 2024 were outside the ZTA proper and inside the ZTA extension area (EA).
Pritam Singh, Chairman and CEO of Sea Shepherd which has been protecting the Vaquita since 2015 through Operation Milagro in partnership with the Mexican Government, said “Sea Shepherd’s commitment to the Vaquita’s survival is absolute. Along with the Mexican Government, we will re-double our efforts to protect this species, and in the coming weeks we will support CONANP as they deploy new technologies to help find Vaquita, bolstering our ability to defend the most endangered marine mammal on earth.”
Dr. Barbara Taylor, leader of the comprehensive evaluation, said “While these results are worrying, the area surveyed represents only 12% of the total area where vaquitas were observed in 2015. Since Vaquita move freely within the Vaquita Refuge, we must extend the survey using acoustic detection to determine where the Vaquitas are going. Vaquitas outside the sanctuary provided by concrete blocks with hooks will need protection from ongoing gillnetting, vaquitas only threat.”
The 2024 Vaquita Survey took place May 5-26, 2024 in a small region of Mexico’s Upper Gulf of California. A partnership between Sea Shepherd and the Natural Protected Areas Commission of Mexico (CONANP), the survey was conducted by Mexico’s team of acousticians led by Dr. Gustavo Cardenas-Hinojosa and fourteen highly trained and experienced observers and led by Dr. Taylor. Acoustic locations guide the visual survey to enhance finding this elusive porpoise. The visual survey located and tracked Vaquitas from two ships, the Sea Shepherd vessel M/V Seahorse and a private vessel: Sirena de la Noche. Both vessels served as observation platforms to help estimate the minimum population size of the living Vaquitas in the ZTA and the (EA) of the Vaquita Refuge. Logistical support was provided by the Mexican Navy.
Based on the results, CONANP announced the expansion of the acoustic research into July and August and into recently favored vaquita habitat. CONANP will deploy 30 acoustic detectors to listen for vaquita in areas where vaquita were acoustically and visually detected in 2015.
See the executive summary of the report HERE.
