1. ¡Viva Vaquita!: A New Approach to Conservation
Whitney Neugebauer:
Andrew Reeve:
Marie Curatolo:
Michael Kim:
Rebecca Jablonski-Diehl:
Human Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Gallucci, Marzluff, Miller
Winter 2011

2. Today’s Presentation Vaquita Problem: Vaquita Bycatch Client
Dolphin-Tuna Fishery Interactions
Conclusion
Recommendations
Selected References

3. Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
Smallest species of porpoise
~5 feet (1.5m)
Population is less than 150 individuals (D’Agrosa, 2000)
Endemic to northern Gulf of California, Mexico.

4. Gulf of California, Mexico

5. Vaquita Bycatch
40-80 vaquita die each year as bycatch in the Baja shrimp fishery (CIRVA)

6. Client: ¡Viva Vaquita! Non-profit foundation Alliance of: Mission:
Save the Whales
American Cetacean Society
Cetos Research Organization
Mission:
generate knowledge and awareness about the critically endangered vaquita.

7. Dolphin-Tuna Fishery Interaction
Incidental catch of over 1,000 dolphins/year in the Eastern Tropical Pacific [ETP] (NOAA)
U.S. led efforts to emphasize “dolphin safe” fishing methods have decreased bycatch from 13 to 0.1 dolphins per catch (NOAA).

8. Economic Issues in the Tuna Fishery
30% of world supply of yellowfin tuna comes from ETP (O’Connell, 1994)
International Fishery:
US, Mexico, Venezuela, Vanuatu
No significant market for dolphin

9. Conclusions
Socio-economic issues as important as ecological issues in fisheries
Unilateral and multilateral solutions required for effective conservation

10. Recommendations
Focus on preserving economic opportunities for Baja fishers
Create international demand for “vaquita safe” shrimp and fish
¡Viva Vaquita! can lead movement toward enviro-labeling
Engage with local fishers to try to change attitudes toward vaquita
May encourage changes to less destructive fishing methods

11. Selected References
D’Agrosa, C., E.C. Lennert-Cody, O. Vidal Vaquita bycatch in Mexico’s artisanal gillnet fisheries: driving a small population to extinction. Conservation Biology 14(4):
NOAA Fisheries Service Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Vaquita Factsheet.
O’Connell, M.E., Using trade to enforce international environmental law: implications for United States law. Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 1(2):
Vidal, O Aquatic mammal conservation in Latin America: problems and perspectives. Conservation Biology 7(4):
¡Viva Vaquita! Available: [Date visited:  02/2011]