What can you do to help?
Vaquita conservation is complex and very dynamic. Learn more from the experts in vaquita conservation on what you can do to help.
Written by Catalina López Sagástegui
We cannot deny the grave situation the vaquita is in, or how difficult it will be to find solutions that will not only save this species from extinction, but allow local fishermen to maintain successful livelihoods as well.
The last five years have been filled with numerous efforts on behalf of governments, conservation groups and fishermen. There is still a lot to be done and there are constantly new opportunities and ways in which we can all help. Each community faces different challenges so whether your interests include the environment, or you would like to work with new business owners there are many ways in which your help can help the communities directly.
Become a responsible consumer – In a perfect world, the Upper Gulf’s fisheries would all be certified as sustainable, but as of today none of them are. We are slowly moving towards that scenario. With NGOs, the government and fishermen are working in collaboration to improve fisheries management and fishing practices. But in the mean time, we can try to become responsible consumers. Buy fish and shrimp directly from cooperatives that actively participate in vaquita conservation efforts. This will create an incentive to stay involved by helping local micro economies thrive. While the region is best known for its shrimp fishery, fishermen engage in a wide array of fisheries that provide great quality products that are harvested responsibly.
Support groups working in the area – There are many groups working on the field and everyone could use your help. Get involved by volunteering or doing internships with NGOs. It is definitely a great way to learn about the region while meeting great people. If you can’t make it to the Upper Gulf, there are other great ways to get involved. Providing economic support to any of the groups involved is great, as is signing petitions and spreading the word about the issues. The most important thing is that you always try to find out exactly how local communities will benefit from your actions.
Support local economies – Now that many of the fishermen are retiring from fishing and starting new businesses, it is important to support them in their new endeavors. If you travel to the area try staying in any of the ecological lodges, or maybe have a nice meal in a restaurant set up as part of the vaquita conservation program. Many of the fishermen are now entering into the ecotourism industry so make sure your sightseeing or fishing trip is set up with one of them. For a list of some of the new businesses in the region you can visit CEDO’s web page, or simply ask around and people will point in the right direction. Remember that the more support these communities receive, the better chance we have of keeping the waters gillnet free.
Ask questions, join the conversation – Vaquita conservation is complex and very dynamic. It involves environmental issues as well as social, political and economic matters. Do not be afraid to ask questions. There are many wonderful people willing to spend time talking about the issues. Whether you want to talk to someone from an NGO about environmental aspects, to a fisherman about fishing and their view on sustainability, or even someone from the government, understanding the situation is the first step towards finding a solution.
Regardless of what your interests might be, the key thing to remember while we embark in any activity is that our efforts will have an impact on the social, political and economic realities of these communities. Every action creates a ripple effect that results in several elements moving or changing, and this is what makes everything so dynamic. Solutions need to be respectful of local traditions and they need to consider both, the environmental aspects and the human aspects. People’s lives are changing as a result of our efforts to save a species, this requires patience. Above all, it requires persistence on everyone’s behalf so the process keeps moving forward.
The website content and comments presented on Vaquita.tv are not necessarily reflective of the views of the partnering organizations. While we encourage open debate and conversation, we reserve the right to edit or delete any postings or comments that may be abusive or libelous.
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LATEST COMMENTS
I’m ten years old, and I found out about the Vaquita by a tweet from Ke$ha. When I saw the tweet I looked at it then I immediately. Then I looked on the Internet and I saw your site, and I felt awful that these were dying, and I desperately want help these creatures. Can you give any suggestions, I am only ten years old, tho.
Hi Alex,
That is great Ke$sha tweeted about Vaquita! This is a very good, and difficult question to answer. Have a look at the video documentary for some ideas. I spent 2.5 years following the story of vaquita and have been one of the lucky few to see them in the wild. They really are a magnificent animal!
“Saving the vaquita” is a very complicated issue, yet this is a way you can make a difference. Tell you friends about the vaquita, tell them how you feel and tell them about this site. This is a first step. Very few people know the Vaquita even exist! If enough people can learn about the vaquita, and ultimately care about its plight, perhaps that will go a long way in the end.
Chris
Filmmaker / Photographer
earthOCEAN
Thank you for your reply, I have told my whole class about Vaquita, now they know everything about them. I showed them by making a poster on the computer about the Vaquita and how we can save them, if you want to see it just ask. I’ve had a look at the videos and I’m afraid they don’t much help to the Vaquita. I’m still not sure how me, a 10 year old could help. I desperately want to save them.
P.S: I live in the UK
P.S.S: Do you have twitter
Hi Alex,
It’s great to see that young people like yourself are taking an interest on this issue. Because the vaquita is not well known, it is very important to help people learn about the species and the situation surrounding it. Keep talking to your friends and family about it and invite them to visit this site to learn more. I know it may not sound like much but you are making a difference!
Catalina
I HATTTTTTEE VAQUITAAAAAS!
Hi Partrerika, That is a fair enough comment. However, it would be more constructive if you could add why.
OMGSH! I sincerely apologize for offending you. I left my computer on and my friend thought saying these things would not do any harm. I actually love vaquitas and I am doing a school project on vaquitas to help save them. ;P
Sincerely, PATRERIKA
Hi Mr. Chris Johnson, I born in a town that is near at golfo de Santa Clara and I know so many a those who live there and are involve in the protection program of the vaquita marina, the Gonsalez brothers and so many other there been getting economic help from mexican goverment, to protec the enviroment for the aquita marina, I and my friends from Yima Arizona, we help those people with ecnomic buget before the shrimp season begins, Me and my friends to the chance and give them 5000.00 dollars a couple years ago when a storm hit el golfo de Santa Clara and destroyed part of the community, any way they agree to pay us with shrimp, it was our first excursion to help them and we spected that they will pay us buck, it was a bud experience for me to deal with them even that their own families pick the extra supplies that we got to them, like food other things that we deliver for them, when the shrimp season start we when over there and spend 2 weeks, and we give them money for gasoline and oil for their boat, at the begin when we agree with them they told us will pay us with kilos of shrimp it suppost to be 500 kilos and we were expecting to buy more from them, so they change the agreement and pay us with but shrimp that was broken, and some there were small in size and also they pay us a the compared price of 35.00 dollars per kilo, I loose a lot a money my self becouse I did not burn my friend, today they still own me like 50 kilos of shrimp is a list 1500.00 dollars and every year I ear from there, and lough about it, isn’t fare I will tell you You are asking for help for them but there are using You, if you know Andres Gonsalez be carfull he and his brother there not a sincerlies people, if You want to do something about it , I can help You But You had to show me who’s people do you want to help becouse a lot of them are using the money to do some thing very different at what they agree to do, another worlds they are getting money for the vaquita program and spend the money an luxury iteam inted to survive and help the program for the one You are fiting
hello im a senior in highschool and i would like to get more knowledge about the Vaqutia Marinas, the reason is i am going to college to become an marine biologist and this porpoise has really caught my attention!
i have some ideas that i would like to share with you but not sure if they would be helpful! thank you!
Hello Emerald,
It’s great to hear enthusiastic people are deciding to go into the marine biology field. This site was created as a tool to share any ideas or questions about the vaquita and the issues surrounding the Upper Gulf of California. Hopefully a scientist or specialist on the matter will read your idea and can give us all some feedback. You never know, it could be a great conversation starter!
regards,
Catalina
Hello I am in 7th grade and I am doing a project called “Celebrating the Life in the Sea” and chose the Vaquita as my endangered animal species. I have created media to along with my report and love that this website can offer me valuable information. Also, I really want to spread the word about the Vaquita! I don’t know how though. If more and more people get the message, we might be able to keep the Vaquita away from extinction. As, it is possible and has the same scenario has happened with few species of whales.
Thanks again,
Sehal
Hi Sehal,
Thanks for the note. It is great that you are doing a project for school on the Vaquita! You can do alot help!
First of all is sharing the story of vaquita with your friends and class. Feel free to download any of the images from the website, or share any of the videos.
Also, you can select your seafood wisely. If people eat sustainably caught seafood, that will help protect habitat that whales and dolphins live in. A good guide is on the Monterey Bay Aquarium website – http://bit.ly/kMbiV2
Less than 1% of the oceans are officially protected (called marine protected areas or
marine sanctuaries), so until we can protect larger key areas of habitat, we will see the same senario in the future.
Chris
i wish seaworld could help with this issue is there such a way to get them in on this topic.
Hi Chris-
Good deal on this page- youve got a knack on nature documentaries. Im an endangered species biologist and would like to inform friends on how to assist further with the project (people to contact etc). Would you have this info handy? (presuming the scientists on the page are the poc).
Do you do any other documentaries?
Regards
Thomas
Hi
I’m 7 years old and I love whales. I would like to save all of the whales. My favorite whale is the blue whale. I have a business idea and I’m thinking that when I make some money I will give some of the money to help save the vaquitas. Iwould really do anyting to help save these whales.
hi,i would like to know any facts on the viquitas,i am currently doing a project for school,
please,i love these animals,and need the facts!!! thnx!
Hello “Love the vaquitas”,
There is some information and facts on this website (http://vaquita.tv/about-vaquita/vaquita-life-history-facts/) that may be of help. Also try the IUCN red list web site for more information (http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/17028/0).
Hope this helps!
catalina
I have spent time south of San Felipe for over 20 years now. When I travel down there this Thanksgiving I will put a Save the Vaquita bumper sticker on my two vehicles. I want the locals to know that my tourism is directly connected to the conservation of the Gulf. Before I buy any shrimp or fish tacos from the locals I plan to ask if the Vaquita was harmed during the process of bringing the product to the market.
I think a bumper sticker is a good start for those of us that live close enough to visit that region. I will make one up if there is not one already.
Thanks for all the efforts by all of the biologists and the Mexican government. Over the
past 5 years there has been a remarkable change on the San Felipe area coastline. Cars and dune buggies no longer drive the length of the beaches, there is less trash and more sea shells and sea life in general. I find a lot less discarded gill nets…..I hope that is a sign that ther is hope for the Vaquita!!!
tim v