2026 Vaquita Marina Observer Training Campaign Begins

From May 19 to 29, aboard the vessel “Seahorse,” nine Mexican participants will refine their skills and knowledge in searching for and detecting the vaquita marina.

The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), in coordination with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), and the nonprofit organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, announce the start of the 2026 Vaquita Marina Observer Training Campaign.

The vaquita marina is an endemic species of the Gulf of California and the world’s most endangered marine mammal. The objectives of this campaign are to strengthen the capabilities of observers; search for the vaquita known as “Frida” and her calf; increase visual and acoustic monitoring efforts in the northwestern portion of the Vaquita Refuge to better understand the importance of this habitat; continue environmental DNA studies in areas where vaquitas have recently been observed; and involve local communities, government officials, and media representatives in this effort.

With support from national and international experts, including Dr. Barbara Taylor, one of the world’s leading marine mammal experts and leader of vaquita visual survey efforts, observers will use four pairs of long-range binoculars to improve their detection skills for spotting vaquitas.

A Mexican scientist will receive specialized training from Dr. Taylor to lead observation efforts, and pangas will be used to approach sighted specimens in order to obtain photographs for the ongoing photo-identification study. Drone footage will also be collected to estimate body length and assess the physical condition of the vaquitas.

This training campaign will help establish a predominantly Mexican team capable of conducting a vaquita observation cruise in May 2027. The last comprehensive search effort for the species took place in September 2025, when the minimum population was estimated at between seven and ten vaquitas.

As in previous observation efforts, Conanp’s marine mammal research group, led by Dr. Gustavo Cárdenas Hinojosa, with support from local fishers from San Felipe, began acoustic monitoring of the vaquita in early May. This monitoring will help determine the areas where vaquitas will be searched for during the training campaign and will contribute key information for the sampling design of the May 2027 observation cruise.

Conanp is leading this effort together with Semarnat, Semar, and Profepa, highlighting the support of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, as well as other civil society organizations and local communities.