The coloration is mostly grey with a darker back and a white ventral field. Thanks to the confidential data that ELI shared with the Mexican authorities, in November 2020, a series of important arrests were made in Mexico. (Steno means narrow in Greek, while coeruleoalba means blue white in Latin). That was our guide to the 9 incredible types of dolphins in Mexico. Each species is unique its own way. Reaching a maximum body length of 150 cm (4.9 ft) (females) or 140 cm (4.6 ft) (males), it is the smallest of all living cetaceans. In this area, the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) has been widely studied, but the knowledge of other cetaceans is scarce and based on traditional visual survey methods. The Mexican government has recently taken steps to protect the vaquita and other endangered species in the Gulf of California, but without continued efforts from conservation organizations, like Oceana, the vaquita may be lost. Found both in the north and south Atlantic Ocean. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (MMPA Permit [23][failed verification][24][25] In 2023, it is still estimated that there are as few as 10 in the wild. Oceanic Fish Restoration Project - Fishermen Restoring Fish in the Pesticides present in the water as a result of runoff from agriculture are a threat as they can be ingested by the vaquitas, causing harm and even death. (Center for Biological Diversity, n.d)[full citation needed], Vaquitas are generalists, foraging on a variety of demersal fish species, crustaceans, and squids, though benthic fish such as grunts and croakers make up most of the diet. I always thought they were porpoises too -- that's what I'd been told all my life. Although the terms "dolphin" and "porpoise" are often used interchangeably, these marine mammals, in Oceanic Fish Restoration Project - Fishermen Restoring Fish in the Gulf of Mexico, B-Roll: Fishing (Commercial & Recreational). This magnitude of strandings in the northern Gulf is unprecedented. WebThe Mexican government has recently taken steps to protect the vaquita and other endangered species in the Gulf of California, but without continued efforts from Seafood safety testing is generally conducted by states. "@type": "Organization", The Deepwater Horizon Oceanic Fish Restoration Project worked with But, of course, they arent porpoises at all. Receive both the printed Magazine mailed to you monthly as well as access to all our READMORE, Over the years, Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine has been the source of some of the most valuable advice, articles, tips and reviews related to fishing the Gulf Coast READMORE, Our user's privacy is important to us at TSF Magazine. Mexico has banned gillnets that often trap vaquitas in the area, but has had trouble enforcing it because the totoaba draws very high prices on the black market. Discover Dolphinaris / Take a look to our virtual tours! [7][8][failed verification] Genome sequencing from an individual captured in 2017 indicates that the ancestral vaquitas had already gone through a major population bottleneck in the past, which may explain why the few remaining individuals are still healthy despite the very low population size.