Vaquita Presentation - Dr. Tom Jefferson

¡Viva Vaquita! Can We Save the World’sMost Endangered MarineMammal Species?

Thomas A. JeffersonCetos Research Organization, San Diego, CA

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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

EDR for inviting me hereEDR for inviting me here Main research collaborators: T. Kieckhefer, T. Main research collaborators: T. Kieckhefer, T.

Nowlan, S. Spencer, J. Muskus, and L. Nowlan, S. Spencer, J. Muskus, and L. Rojas-BrachoRojas-Bracho

Team VaquitaTeam Vaquita: A. & S. Baldridge, S. : A. & S. Baldridge, S. Eastham, D. Glim, T. Kieckhefer, D. Kutz, R. Eastham, D. Glim, T. Kieckhefer, D. Kutz, R. Puckett, R. Rodriguez, Maris Sidenstecker I, Puckett, R. Rodriguez, Maris Sidenstecker I, Maris Sidenstecker IIMaris Sidenstecker II

General support: H. Chan, SWFSC staffGeneral support: H. Chan, SWFSC staff Many volunteersMany volunteers Funding sources and SEMARNATFunding sources and SEMARNAT

Funding SourcesFunding Sources

Anonymous Foundation





Talk OutlineTalk Outline

History of marine mammal extinctionsHistory of marine mammal extinctions Background on the vaquitaBackground on the vaquita Brief summary of our 2008 photo Brief summary of our 2008 photo

projectproject Education/public awareness effortsEducation/public awareness efforts What you can do and concluding What you can do and concluding

thoughtsthoughts

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

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

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

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

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

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

We have had mixed success at saving We have had mixed success at saving endangered marine mammalsendangered marine mammals

We’re pretty good at saving them from We’re pretty good at saving them from direct huntingdirect hunting

We don’t have a very good a record We don’t have a very good a record when the problems are varied and when the problems are varied and involve habitat destructioninvolve habitat destruction

Six Species of Porpoises - Six Species of Porpoises - Four Species of Four Species of PhocoenaPhocoena

Spectacled PorpoiseHarbor Porpoise

Burmeister’s Porpoise

Vaquita

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

Dall’s Porpoise Finless Porpoise

What’s a Vaquita?What’s a Vaquita?

A. Robles

The vaquita is a small porpoise in The vaquita is a small porpoise in the family Phocoenidae.the family Phocoenidae.

It is one of only seven species of It is one of only seven species of true porpoises.true porpoises.

It is found in a tiny area in the It is found in a tiny area in the extreme northern Gulf of extreme northern Gulf of California.California.

It is a unique species, with a body It is a unique species, with a body shape and color pattern unlike that shape and color pattern unlike that of any other. of any other.

It has a tall dorsal fin and a It has a tall dorsal fin and a beautiful color pattern, with dark beautiful color pattern, with dark eye rings and lip patches.eye rings and lip patches.

‘‘Panda of the Sea’.Panda of the Sea’.

Vaquita FactsVaquita Facts

Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish.Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish.

At about 5 feet (1.5 m), the smallest cetacean.At about 5 feet (1.5 m), the smallest cetacean.

Lives only about a 4 hour drive from San Diego.Lives only about a 4 hour drive from San Diego.

Give birth only every other year.Give birth only every other year.

Live to be about 20-21 years old.Live to be about 20-21 years old.

Never been held in aquaria.Never been held in aquaria.

Rarest and Rarest and most-endangeredmost-endangered marine mammal. marine mammal.

Fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf ecosystem.Fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf ecosystem.



Species OnlySpecies OnlyDescribed in Described in 19581958



Vaquita Vaquita DistributionDistribution

Most restricted distribution of ANY marine cetacean

< 4,000 km2

(1/4 the size of the LA area)

Shallow Shallow DepthsDepths

San Felipe

Occurs only in the shallow (10-50 m) depths of the northern Gulfof California

HighHighProductivityProductivity San Felipe

Vaquita habitat is highly productive

The Problem - GillnetsThe Problem - Gillnets

The Solution - Remove GillnetsThe Solution - Remove Gillnets

Plan to compensate gillnet fishermen Plan to compensate gillnet fishermen for giving up gillnet fishing in the for giving up gillnet fishing in the vaquita’s range. vaquita’s range.

Done through a ‘buy-out’ program, a Done through a ‘buy-out’ program, a ‘rent-out’ program, and the development ‘rent-out’ program, and the development of alternative fishing gear. of alternative fishing gear.

We applaud Mexico for these efforts.We applaud Mexico for these efforts. However, recent economic events have However, recent economic events have

slowed progress.slowed progress. The vaquita does not have time to The vaquita does not have time to

wait…wait…

History of the PopulationHistory of the Population

Vaquita abundance - solid lineVaquita abundance - solid line Capture history of totoaba - circlesCapture history of totoaba - circles Number of gillnet pangas - squaresNumber of gillnet pangas - squares Est. annual vaquita mortality - trianglesEst. annual vaquita mortality - triangles

Source:Jaramillo-Legorreta 2008

Latest Abundance EstimateLatest Abundance Estimate

Tim Gerrodette (SWFSC) has generated a Tim Gerrodette (SWFSC) has generated a new estimate from the 2008 new estimate from the 2008 JordanJordan survey survey datadata

Best estimate is 250 individualsBest estimate is 250 individuals This does NOT indicate an increase in This does NOT indicate an increase in

abundanceabundance Decline rate can not be estimated accurately, Decline rate can not be estimated accurately,

but its clear a decline has occurred since but its clear a decline has occurred since 19971997

Mexico’s Large Gillnet FleetMexico’s Large Gillnet Fleet

Shrimp TrawlingShrimp Trawling

Among Highest Conservation Among Highest Conservation Priorities of All MammalsPriorities of All Mammals

Vaquita

Source:Isaac etal. 2007 - “Mammals on the EDGE…”

Existing Photos - Dead Existing Photos - Dead PorpoisesPorpoises

A. Robles A. Robles

Best Photos Before 2008 - Best Photos Before 2008 - Blurry, Grainy ImagesBlurry, Grainy Images

G. Silber

G. Ybarra

Only previous photo to show a vaquita face

October 2008 - San Felipe October 2008 - San Felipe Photo ExpeditionPhoto Expedition

David Starr JordanDavid Starr Jordan

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

Then… 13 Then… 13 Sightings Sightings in 13 Days!in 13 Days!

Rocas Consag

SanFelipe

Colorado River Delta

When seas were calm, and we searched the right area,we found vaquitas

All Sightings in Vicinity of Rocas All Sightings in Vicinity of Rocas ConsagConsag

Vaquita

Rocas Consag

Rocas ConsagRocas ConsagThis island can be seen from anywhere in the range of the species

87 m (285 ft)

The Importance of Calm SeasThe Importance of Calm Seas

Beaufort 0-2/3, average Beau 0.92

Photo-identification Photo-identification ISIS Possible Possible

Four Individuals IDedFour Individuals IDed

Nicola

Mid-nick

Top-nick

Fingertip

EnforcementEnforcementBoth Navy and PROFEPA were out in force

The End?… Hopefully Not for The End?… Hopefully Not for the Vaquita!the Vaquita!

2010 Field Work in Mexico2010 Field Work in Mexico

We have been conducting field work on the vaquita We have been conducting field work on the vaquita since 7 June 2010since 7 June 2010

We hope to build up our photo-identification catalogWe hope to build up our photo-identification catalog Only a single sighting of vaquitasOnly a single sighting of vaquitas We have done some local education/awareness work We have done some local education/awareness work

as wellas well

Creation of New WebsiteCreation of New Website

www.vivavaquita.org

Sea Otter Classic BoothSea Otter Classic Booth

Viva Vaquita booth at Viva Vaquita booth at SOC April 16-18, 2010SOC April 16-18, 2010

40-50K people attended 40-50K people attended the eventthe event

Great opportunity to Great opportunity to preach beyond the preach beyond the convertedconverted

Come by and support Come by and support us next year!us next year!

Education and Public Education and Public AwarenessAwareness

Special Issue of Special Issue of WhalewatcherWhalewatcher Popular/newspaper articlesPopular/newspaper articles Booths at other outdoor/environmental eventsBooths at other outdoor/environmental events Series of lectures and school programsSeries of lectures and school programs Printing and distribution of brochuresPrinting and distribution of brochures Adopt-A-Porpoise programAdopt-A-Porpoise program Any other ideas?Any other ideas?

What you can do...What you can do...

Tell all your friends and family about the vaquita.Tell all your friends and family about the vaquita.

Vote for politicians with a good environmental record.Vote for politicians with a good environmental record.

Support the economy by traveling to Mexico.Support the economy by traveling to Mexico.

Don’t buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets.Don’t buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets.

Write your elected officials and tell them to help.Write your elected officials and tell them to help.

Write letters to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment.Write letters to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment.

Send vaquita drawings to the United Nations.Send vaquita drawings to the United Nations.

Donate to NGOs with Vaquita Recovery Funds!Donate to NGOs with Vaquita Recovery Funds!

In 5 or 10 years, will the vaquita In 5 or 10 years, will the vaquita still be here?still be here?

Illustration by Uko Gorter

Visit www.vivavaquita.orgto learn more about how you can help…

¡Viva Vaquita!

http://www.vivavaquita.org/