Scientists estimate that 150 Vaquita remain. This shy, elusive porpoise is disappearing due to accidental entanglement in fishing nets set for shrimp.

For the past year, Miguel Reyes Franco has been taking part in the alternative gear experiments in the region. He gives us an insight into the issues surrounding Vaquita conservation from a fishermen’s perspective.

We are releasing the footage for non-commerical use to educate the general public about the Vaquita porpoise. You may share, post, and use media for educational and non-commercial purposes.

Today I joined Catalina Lopez Sagástegui of Noroeste Sustentable (NOS). Their mission is to “construct and implement a long term vision for the region’s sustainable development through a political and social agreement”.

Lorenzo Rojas Bracho has been the ‘voice for vaquita’ for many years. He is redefining what a ‘scientist’ is in an era full of critical conservation issues for marine mammals.

Background:
On October 19, 2008 documentary filmmaker and photographer Chris Johnson captured rare video footage of the Vaquita porpoise. From October-November 2008, he was documenting “Expedition Vaquita” in the northern Gulf of California Mexico, a multi-national scientifitic survey led by the Instituto Nacional de Ecologia in Ensenada (INE) and NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center [...]

Scientist Barb Taylor asked me to join a team from the RV David Starr Jordan to document what was happening 5 miles away. Bob Pitman sighted a marine mammal on the “big-eyes” moving erratically.

Windy days have dominated the past week and a half here in the northern Gulf of California frustrating researchers, local fishermen and even myself, the lone filmmaker trying to document “the story”.

Today is the beginning of my journey to search for and document the vaquita – the world’s smallest and most endangered cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise).

The race to save the vaquita, a tiny porpoise living in the northern Gulf of California, began in earnest this week with the launch of an international campaign in Ensenada, Mexico.