<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/07/extinction-alert-issued-over-critically-endangered-vaquita>
"The International Whaling Commission has issued the first “extinction alert”
in its 70-year history, to warn of the danger facing the vaquita, the world’s
tiniest and most critically endangered marine mammal.
A recent study shows that the small porpoise, found only in the Gulf of
California in Mexico, has only 10 individuals left. It has been driven to the
edge of extinction due to entanglement in fishing nets known as “gillnets”,
which are now illegal in the area.
The scientific committee of the IWC said in a statement it had grave concerns
over the survival of the vaquita and had issued the alert to highlight the
actions needed to save it. It said extinction of the porpoise was inevitable
unless all gillnets were replaced with alternative fishing gear that protected
it and the livelihoods of fishers.
“If this doesn’t happen now, it will be too late,” it said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
