The rarest marine mammal in the world is on the brink of going extinct, with just 10 Vaquitas left in the world. Mexico is directly responsible for the lax enforcement of animal protection rules, according to a new assessment by the North American Environmental Commission, which operates under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Only found in a small area of the Upper Gulf of California, the Vaquita is in danger of going extinct due to the extensive illegal gillnet fishing and the lucrative totoaba fish trade, which values the fish’s swim bladder in East Asian markets. Just 10 Vaquitas left in the world are struggling to survive due to enforcement shortcomings, despite worldwide pressure and current prohibitions.

Gillnets, Totoaba Trade, and the Decline of the Vaquita

The extensive use of gillnets, which indiscriminately capture marine creatures, has posed the biggest threat to the vaquita’s survival, resulting in just 10 Vaquitas left in the world. These nets are designed to capture the endangered totoaba fish, but they frequently entangle vaquitas, causing them to suffer life-threatening injuries. The swim bladder of the totoaba, commonly known as “the cocaine of the sea,” is highly valued in illegal East Asian markets, supporting a profitable trafficking business.

Mexico banned gillnets in 2020, but the Commission and the Center for Biological Diversity have found that the prohibition has not worked. According to reports, fishermen are still using prohibited gear at almost the same rates as previously, frequently transporting their illicit catch to distant areas to avoid discovery. Satellite tracking, interviews, and eyewitness reports demonstrate how enforcement is still inadequate and uneven.

Stronger measures, including increased vessel inspections, equipping boats with satellite tracking equipment, and promoting the use of alternative gear, were mandated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. However, the majority of the illicit fishing fleet remains unmonitored, with only 10 of the 850 satellite trackers promised being deployed. The report presents a negative image of Mexico’s dedication, characterizing its enforcement actions as either ineffective or untrustworthy.

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International Pressure and the Urgent Call for Accountability

Environmental activists are now calling on U.S. authorities to take decisive action, as the USMCA framework provides the United States with a means of pressuring Mexico into compliance. Mexico’s repeated failures have left no option but to escalate the matter, the Commission’s report highlights. Suppose the trade agreement’s discussions are unsuccessful, the case may be sent to a dispute panel, which has the power to penalize Mexico’s commerce until it proves that the gillnet ban is actually being enforced.

According to experts, the Vaquita is one of the most avoidable extinctions in modern times and might go extinct without prompt international action. This species’ survival requires prompt, concerted action, including the complete enforcement of fishing regulations, the cessation of illegal Totoaba trafficking, and the provision of sustainable alternatives to local people.

The Vaquita’s predicament is a sobering reminder of how illegal trade and poor governance may push animals to extinction. The world may soon lose the Vaquita completely unless immediate corrective action is taken; this would be an irreparable catastrophe brought on by human carelessness rather than natural causes.

Status of the Vaquita (2025)

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