AN international wildlife body yesterday sanctioned Mexico for not doing enough to protect the vaquita porpoise, the world’s most endangered marine mammal.

The trade sanctions issued by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species prevents Mexico from exporting millions of dollars worth of regulated animal and plant products around the globe. 

The Pacific porpoise – nicknamed vaquita in Mexico – has been decimated by gillnets used to catch totoaba, a large fish whose swim bladder is prized in China thanks to its supposed medicinal properties.

The totoaba is also an endangered species, whose bladder-fins sell for thousands of dollars per kg in China.

According to several conservation organisations, the sanctions relate to more than 3,000 animals and plants running into “millions of dollars in exports”.

“These include lucrative products such as crocodile leather, mahogany, tarantulas, reptiles pets, cacti and other plants,” a joint statement issued by several environmental and animal welfare civil society groups said.

According to these groups, there are only 10 Pacific porpoises left.

The vaquita, the smallest porpoise on the planet, has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 1996.

Conservationists have previously been involved in a number of violent confrontations with fishermen while working with Mexican authorities to remove illegal nets.

“While no one relishes economically painful sanctions, all other efforts to push Mexico to save the vaquita haven’t been enough,” said Sarah Uhlemann, international programme director at the Center for Biological Diversity. 

“The strongest measures possible are needed to wake up the Mexican government and prompt it to finally save this tiny porpoise from extinction.” – AFP, March 28, 2023.