In News:

• The vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus), the world’s rarest marine mammal, is on the brink of extinction with only about 10 individuals remaining in the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.
• Despite global attention, weak enforcement of wildlife protection laws in Mexico and the persistence of illegal fishing practices have accelerated the species’ decline.
• A recent report by the North American Environmental Commission under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has held Mexico accountable for failing to safeguard the vaquita.

The Vaquita: An Overview

• Discovery: Identified in 1958.
• Classification: Smallest member of the cetacean family (whales, dolphins, porpoises), diverged from dolphins ~15 million years ago.
• Habitat: Restricted to shallow waters (up to 50 m deep) in the Upper Gulf of California.
• Appearance: Distinct dark eye rings, lip patches, and a large dorsal fin aiding heat release.
• Behavior: Solitary or small-group species, shy, avoids boats.
• Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
  • CITES: Appendix I (strict trade regulation).

Causes of Decline

• Gillnet Bycatch:
  • The primary threat is entanglement in illegal gillnets set for totoaba fish, whose swim bladder fetches high prices in East Asia.
  • Despite Mexico’s ban on gillnets since 2020, on-ground reports reveal continued use.
• Weak Enforcement:
  • Only 10 of the 850 promised satellite trackers fitted on fishing vessels.
  • Fishermen bypass restrictions by sending illegal catch to other regions.
• Institutional Failures:
  • Lack of adequate vessel inspections, monitoring, and promotion of alternative fishing gear.
  • Mexico’s enforcement claims contradicted by eyewitness accounts and NGO reports.

International Pressure and USMCA Mechanisms

• The USMCA Environmental Commission report has urged the United States to hold Mexico accountable.
• Under USMCA, the US can:
  • Press for stricter compliance through consultations.
  • Escalate disputes to a panel stage.
  • Impose import penalties if Mexico fails to enforce the ban in vaquita habitats.