Results of the 2025 Vaquita Monitoring Effort


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEMARNAT, SEMAR, CONANP, SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Mexico City, October 28, 2025

From May to September 2025, two acoustic and visual monitoring projects were carried out in the Upper Gulf of California, confirming sightings of between 7 and 10 vaquitas and the birth of new calves.

At the headquarters of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the results of the Vaquita Marina 2025 Observation Cruise were presented, confirming sightings of between 7 and 10 individuals and the birth of new calves.

The press conference was attended by the Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, Marina Robles García; the National Commissioner of Natural Protected Areas, Pedro Álvarez-Icaza Longoria; the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection, Mariana Boy Tamborrell; the President and CEO of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Pritam Singh; Sea Shepherd’s Executive Director, Julian Escutia; and the Director General of Services of the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), Sergio Reyna Barrios.

During the event, it was reported that SEMARNAT, SEMAR, CONANP, and the organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society carried out two interconnected research projects from May to September 2025 to provide updated information on the location of vaquitas, how many could be observed, and whether they continue to reproduce.

The first project used acoustic detectors to collect thousands of days of data throughout the area where vaquitas have been observed since 2015, in order to update information on their distribution and abundance.

The second project, known as the Vaquita Marina Observation Cruise, employed acoustic and visual methods to estimate the number of vaquitas and calves observed using the Expert Elicitation method, as well as to identify calves and juveniles.

During her remarks, Undersecretary Marina Robles García stated:

“This monitoring allows us to adjust our work strategy, to reinforce actions in precise areas in order to achieve greater vigilance and protection. But it also tells us several things: that the vaquita is still there, that it persists, that the downward trend has not continued, that there are even individuals we had not seen for several years—clearly spending time in other areas where we have not been monitoring—and that it continues to reproduce. The fact that a species continues to reproduce and appears healthy is the best indicator of its life, of its condition as a species, but also the best invitation to maintain our efforts, our hope, and our joint work.”

Commissioner Pedro Álvarez-Icaza Longoria emphasized:

“For three consecutive years, scientific information shows that there is no substantial decline in the vaquita population and that the species continues to reproduce. All of the data accompanying this monitoring allows us to take targeted inspection and surveillance actions—we will do everything necessary as a government to conserve this species.”

Likewise, Pritam Singh, President and CEO of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, stated:

“Sea Shepherd will continue doing everything possible to save the vaquita. We will also continue working with the Government of Mexico, and with our local and international friends and allies, to defend the vaquita’s habitat and take the necessary actions to protect it better.”

Various government agencies, as well as local residents and groups from San Felipe, Baja California, participated in the research projects. Notably, a group of 17 young people from the region were introduced to visual monitoring methods and took part in the observation efforts.

Acoustic monitoring recorded 254 acoustic encounters with vaquitas between May 24 and September 29, using a total of 1,228 detectors deployed across 497 sites.

Visual monitoring took place from September 2 to 30 aboard Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s vessels Seahorse and Bob Barker, with national and international scientists experienced in marine mammal research—whose combined careers total more than 400 years of work in cetacean conservation. Each ship was equipped with three pairs of 25× “Big Eyes” binoculars. The search for these small, elusive porpoises was supported by Mexican acoustic experts, backed by a group of local fishers who collected acoustic data to determine where the vaquitas spend their time.

The Expert Elicitation was conducted by facilitators working with cruise observers to reach a consensus on the frequency distribution of vaquitas observed. There was a 67% probability that the total number of distinct individuals observed in 2025 ranged between 7 and 10, compared to a 75% probability of 6 to 8 in 2024 and 67% of 8 to 12 in 2023.

Experts observed at least one or two calves. The mother of one of them is known as Frida; she has a bent dorsal fin, and her name was inspired by Frida Kahlo. Frida was also seen with a calf in both 2023 and 2024.

The results show that there was no decline of the magnitude reported in previous years, when the population decreased by 45% in a single year.

The Government of Mexico and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reaffirm their commitment to strengthen conservation strategies and actions to protect the vaquita marina.