Vaquita Presentation - Dr. Tom Jefferson

¡Viva Vaquita! Can We Save the World’s Most Endangered Marine Mammal Species? Thomas A. Jefferson Cetos Research Organization, San Diego, CA

Acknowledgements
EDR for inviting me here
Main research collaborators: T. Kieckhefer, T. Nowlan, S. Spencer, J. Muskus, and L. Rojas-Bracho
Team Vaquita : A. & S. Baldridge, S. Eastham, D. Glim, T. Kieckhefer, D. Kutz, R. Puckett, R. Rodriguez, Maris Sidenstecker I, Maris Sidenstecker II
General support: H. Chan, SWFSC staff
Many volunteers
Funding sources and SEMARNAT

Funding Sources Anonymous Foundation

Talk Outline
History of marine mammal extinctions
Background on the vaquita
Brief summary of our 2008 photo project
Education/public awareness efforts
What you can do and concluding thoughts

Steller’s Sea Cow - EXTINCT The last individual killed in 1768, 27 years after discovery

Northern Elephant Seal - RECOVERED Reduced to about 50 individuals near turn of the 20th Century

Gray Whale - RECOVERED ENP Stock twice reduced to near extinction, but has since recovered

West Indian Monk Seal - EXTINCT Wiped out by sealing and collections for museums in the 1950s

Baiji - EXTINCT Declared extinct in 2006, as a result of habitat destruction

Take Home Message
We have had mixed success at saving endangered marine mammals
We’re pretty good at saving them from direct hunting
We don’t have a very good a record when the problems are varied and involve habitat destruction

Six Species of Porpoises - Four Species of Phocoena Spectacled Porpoise Harbor Porpoise Burmeister’s Porpoise Vaquita

Two Species in Other Genera - Dall’s and Finless Porpoises Dall’s Porpoise Finless Porpoise

What’s a Vaquita?
The vaquita is a small porpoise in the family Phocoenidae.
It is one of only seven species of true porpoises.
It is found in a tiny area in the extreme northern Gulf of California.
It is a unique species, with a body shape and color pattern unlike that of any other.
It has a tall dorsal fin and a beautiful color pattern, with dark eye rings and lip patches.
‘ Panda of the Sea’.
A. Robles

Vaquita Facts
Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish.
At about 5 feet (1.5 m), the smallest cetacean.
Lives only about a 4 hour drive from San Diego.
Give birth only every other year.
Live to be about 20-21 years old.
Never been held in aquaria.
Rarest and most-endangered marine mammal.
Fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf ecosystem.

Species Only Described in 1958

Vaquita Distribution Most restricted distribution of ANY marine cetacean < 4,000 km 2 (1/4 the size of the LA area)

Shallow Depths San Felipe Occurs only in the shallow (10-50 m) depths of the northern Gulf of California

High Productivity San Felipe Vaquita habitat is highly productive

The Problem - Gillnets

The Solution - Remove Gillnets
Plan to compensate gillnet fishermen for giving up gillnet fishing in the vaquita’s range.
Done through a ‘buy-out’ program, a ‘rent-out’ program, and the development of alternative fishing gear.
We applaud Mexico for these efforts.
However, recent economic events have slowed progress.
The vaquita does not have time to wait…

History of the Population
Vaquita abundance - solid line
Capture history of totoaba - circles
Number of gillnet pangas - squares
Est. annual vaquita mortality - triangles
Source : Jaramillo-Legorreta 2008

Latest Abundance Estimate
Tim Gerrodette (SWFSC) has generated a new estimate from the 2008 Jordan survey data
Best estimate is 250 individuals
This does NOT indicate an increase in abundance
Decline rate can not be estimated accurately, but its clear a decline has occurred since 1997

Mexico’s Large Gillnet Fleet

Shrimp Trawling

Among Highest Conservation Priorities of All Mammals Vaquita Source : Isaac et al. 2007 - “ Mammals on the EDGE…”

Existing Photos - Dead Porpoises A. Robles A. Robles

Best Photos Before 2008 - Blurry, Grainy Images G. Silber G. Ybarra Only previous photo to show a vaquita face

October 2008 - San Felipe Photo Expedition

David Starr Jordan

After 18 Frustrating Days… Success! - High-Quality Photos

Then… 13 Sightings in 13 Days! Rocas Consag San Felipe Colorado River Delta When seas were calm, and we searched the right area, we found vaquitas

All Sightings in Vicinity of Rocas Consag Vaquita Rocas Consag

Rocas Consag This island can be seen from anywhere in the range of the species 87 m (285 ft)

The Importance of Calm Seas Beaufort 0-2/3, average Beau 0.92

Photo-identification IS Possible

Four Individuals IDed Nicola Mid-nick Top-nick Fingertip

Enforcement Both Navy and PROFEPA were out in force

The End?… Hopefully Not for the Vaquita!

2010 Field Work in Mexico
We have been conducting field work on the vaquita since 7 June 2010
We hope to build up our photo-identification catalog
Only a single sighting of vaquitas
We have done some local education/awareness work as well

Creation of New Website www.vivavaquita.org

Sea Otter Classic Booth
Viva Vaquita booth at SOC April 16-18, 2010
40-50K people attended the event
Great opportunity to preach beyond the converted
Come by and support us next year!

Education and Public Awareness
Special Issue of Whalewatcher
Popular/newspaper articles
Booths at other outdoor/environmental events
Series of lectures and school programs
Printing and distribution of brochures
Adopt-A-Porpoise program
Any other ideas?

What you can do...
Tell all your friends and family about the vaquita.
Vote for politicians with a good environmental record.
Support the economy by traveling to Mexico.
Don’t buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets.
Write your elected officials and tell them to help.
Write letters to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment.
Send vaquita drawings to the United Nations.
Donate to NGOs with Vaquita Recovery Funds!

In 5 or 10 years, will the vaquita still be here? Illustration by Uko Gorter

Visit www.vivavaquita.org to learn more about how you can help… ¡Viva Vaquita!

Vaquita Presentation - Dr. Tom Jefferson

by cherylbutner on Jun 30, 2010

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