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Vaquita on the brink of extinction in the Gulf of California

The vaquita lives only in the northern Gulf of California, where illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba continues.

The 2025 acoustic and visual survey estimated, with 67 percent probability, 7 to 10 individuals in the study area, including at least one or two calves. Numbers are stable compared with 2023 and 2024, and fishing boats in the Zero Tolerance Area fell by more than 90 percent thanks to concrete blocks with hooks and Mexican Navy patrols. Scientists note the area northwest of the zone remains unprotected, and Sea Shepherd removed illegal nets in the Upper Gulf in February 2026.

Species

Needs

• habitat
• anti-poaching

Who is helping

Organisations that, according to their own publications, work on this event (1). Donations go directly to each organisation's own website - GLOBURNS does not handle payments.

• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS)
  Sea Shepherd Conservation Society takes direct action to defend marine life. In the Upper Gulf of California it removes illegal nets and in 2026 is training observers in…
  Donate on the organisation's website (seashepherd.org)

Sources

• seashepherd.org seashepherd.org/2025/10/28/results-of-the-2025-vaquita-monitoring-effort/
• iucn-csg.org iucn-csg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Report-vaquita-acoustic-and-visual-survey-2025-EN…
• seashepherd.org seashepherd.org/2026/02/26/572-marine-animals-freed-from-illegal-nets/
• iucnredlist.org iucnredlist.org/species/17028/50370296

Seed record, before editorial verification. Every number links to its source; report errors on the Corrections page. Methodology · Corrections

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