Status of the Vaquita

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is found only in the waters of the northern Gulf of California, Mexico (see map), and recent surveys within the area now most favoured by vaquitas have observed only about about ten individuals remaining over the period from 2019 to 2023. 

The precipitous decline in abundance estimates and very low number of remaining individuals makes it clear that the vaquita is in immediate danger of extinction.  The species is listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List and is the first species for which the IWC has issued an Extinction Alert.

The vaquita is estimated to have declined by a cumulative 99% (95% confidence interval from nearly 100% to 92.1%) from 1998 to 2018.  Recent survey abundances are tabled below.  However the rate of decrease has not been constant over recent decades. Thus, the cumulative total decline reflects both an 8% annual rate of decline during 1997-2008 and a 45% annual rate of decline during 2011-2018. Since 2018, the decline has likely slowed, as a continuation of the prior rate would have almost surely led to extinction by now, although recent detection rates continue to decline.

Vaquita are unintentionally killed in gillnets. The highest mortality rate is in nets set for the similar-sized totoaba fish, whose swim bladders are prized in the black market for traditional Chinese medicine.  Regulations established by the Government of Mexico banning all gillnets have so far proved unenforceable and in August 2022 concrete blocks with entangling hooks were installed throughout the ‘Zero Tolerance Area’ where vaquitas appear to spend most of their time.  A dramatic reduction of gillnetting within that area followed, but there is no evidence of reduced gillnetting outside this area.

In these circumstances, with about 6 to 19 individuals likely remaining, the species is in immediate danger of extinction.

Data quality for this population is good. The assessment date for vaquitas is 2018.  Further details are available here.