Mexico Considers Reducing Vaquita Gillnet Ban Area Amidst Conservation Outcry

Mexico Proposes Significant Reduction in Vaquita Protection Zone

The Mexican government is currently considering a proposal to significantly reduce the area where gillnets are prohibited in the Upper Gulf of California, a move that has ignited fierce opposition from international environmental organizations. The proposed changes could see the protected zone, crucial for the survival of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, shrink by more than 85 percent compared to regulations established in 2020.

The vaquita, the world's smallest marine mammal, is endemic to this region, also known as the Sea of Cortez. Its population has plummeted dramatically over recent decades, primarily due to accidental entanglement in gillnets set for illegal fishing of the totoaba fish and shrimp. Recent surveys, conducted between May and September 2025, estimate that only seven to ten vaquitas remain in the wild, though the sighting of new calves offers a glimmer of hope for the species' persistence.

Environmental Groups Warn of Extinction Risk

Environmental groups have vehemently criticized the Mexican government's proposal, labeling it a 'surrender to illegal fishing' and a 'dangerous gamble' that the vaquita simply cannot afford. Organizations such as the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), and the Center for Biological Diversity argue that narrowing the scope of protection creates an unacceptable extinction risk.

Sarah Dolman, Senior Ocean Campaigner for the EIA, stated, 'With just a handful of vaquitas left, I'm stunned and appalled that the Mexican government is proposing to reduce measures to protect them.' Critics contend that instead of weakening protections, the government should focus on fully enforcing the existing 2020 regulations.

Balancing Livelihoods and Conservation

The Mexican government, through entities like the Intergovernmental Group on Sustainability in the Upper Gulf of California (GIS) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), has framed the reform as a data-driven recalibration. Officials indicate the approach aims to balance vaquita conservation with the livelihoods of local fishing communities, particularly commercial shrimp and clam harvesters, and to improve enforcement efficiency by concentrating efforts on a smaller 'Zero Tolerance Zone' (ZTA) where vaquita sightings are most prevalent.

However, past enforcement efforts have faced scrutiny. In 2023, the Secretariat to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) sanctioned Mexico for not doing enough to combat illegal fishing. An August 2025 report from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation also found that Mexican authorities were not adequately enforcing the gillnet ban, with illegal fishing continuing at levels similar to before the restrictions.

The Ongoing Struggle for Survival

The vaquita's decline is intrinsically linked to the illegal trade of the totoaba's swim bladder, which is highly valued in Asian black markets for unproven medicinal properties. Despite previous bans on gillnet fishing, including a permanent ban announced in 2017 and stricter regulations in 2020, illegal fishing persists. Conservation efforts have included partnerships with organizations like the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for net removal and surveillance, as well as the deployment of anti-trawling hooks and tracking devices on fishing vessels.

The current debate underscores the complex challenge of protecting the vaquita while addressing the socio-economic realities of fishing communities in the region. The outcome of this review will be critical for the future of the world's most endangered marine mammal.