Vaquita

Species: 

Phocoena sinus

IUCN Status: 

Critically Endangered
Photo: Chris Johnson earthOCEAN www.vaquita.tv

Gillnet fisheries pose the greatest threat to the vaquita population. Current bycatch estimates are unavailable, but in the early 1990s an estimated 39 to 84 individuals were caught by fishermen from one town (D'Agrosa et al 2000).  In 2019, CIRVA reported that probably only 10 individuals remain of this species, 22 at most. (CIRVA, 2019).

References

CIRVA (V). 2019. Report of the Eleventh Meeting of the 'Comité Internacional para la Recuperación de la Vaquita. NOAA, Southwest Fiheries Science Center, 34pp.

D'Agrosa, C, CE Lennert-Cody, O Vidal. 2000. Vaquita bycatch in Mexico's artisanal gillnet fisheries: driving a small population to extinction. Conservation Biology 14(4): 1110-1119.

Bycatch Threat: 

Gillnets

Population: 

~ 19
Northern Gulf of California, Mexico

Type: 

Mammal

Featured: 

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Related Field Studies

Location Gear Technique Species Results Catch Effect on Target Catch Type Reference
northern Cyprus Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) No effect Bony fish Not tested Field study in the wild Conflict between dolphins and a data-scarce fishery of the European Union
San Jose, Salaverry, Ancon, Peru Gillnets Visual deterrents Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Seabirds, Sea Turtles Bycatch probability per set was reduced by up to 74.4% for sea turtles and 70.8 for small cetaceans in comparison to non-illuminated nets. For seabirds, nominal BPUE decreased by 84% in the presence of LEDs. Elasmobranchs, tuna, dolphinfish No effect Field study in the wild An illuminating idea to reduce bycatch in the Peruvian small-scale gillnet fishery.
Bangledash Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Subtle differences in dolphin behavior were detected but it remains unclear if pingers would successfully reduce dolphin interactions with gillnets. N/A N/A Field study in the wild Final report to the New England Aquarium on pinger displacement trials for Ganges River dolphins Platanista gangetica in the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangledesh
Cornwall Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Only the AIRMAR pinger worked satisfactorily Hake N/A Summary study Trial of acoustic deterrents (porpoise pingers) for prevention of porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatch
Ireland Gillnets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) CETASAVER and Dolphin Deterrent Device resulted in mild responses by dolphins. BIM pingers elicited no response. none N/A Field study in the wild Effect of acoustic deterrents on the behavior of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis)
New Zealand Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) There is a continued overlap between Hector's dolphins and fisheries. Summary study Hector's dolphin risk assessments: old and new analyses show consistent results
Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices, Passive acoustic deterrents Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Net alarms do not appear ver effective in reducing small cetacean entanglements in gillnets N/A N/A Summary study Acoustic methods of reducing or eliminating marine mammal-fishery interactions: do they work?
Queensland, Australia Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) The current net/pinger configuration is adequate for humpback whales, dugongs and dolphins swimming at normal travelling speeds. The current pinger spacing is insufficient for dolphins swimming straight at the net at high speeds. Shark N/A Field study in the wild Acoustic investigation of bycatch mitigation pingers
Atlantic and Indian Oceans Surrounding nets Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) n/a N/A N/A Summary study Cetaceans and tuna purse seine fisheries in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans: interactions but few mortalitites
New South Wales, Australia Traps Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) n/a n/a n/a Summary study Long-term trends in cetacean incidents in New South Wales, Australia
Galicia Spain Gillnets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Substantial economic loss can occur from interactions between bottlenose dolphins and gillnets. Cetacean bycatch mortality highest for set gillnets. Various Field study in the wild Cetacean-fishery interactions in Galicia (NW Spain): results and management implications of a face-to-face interview survey of local fishers
Portugal Surrounding nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Cetaceans were present during 16.9% of fishing events; encirclement led to common dolphin mortalities Sardine Field study in the wild Quantification of interactions between the Portuguese sardine purse-seine fishery and cetaceans
Italy Gillnets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) None reported Bony fish Catch composition was different when dolphins attacked the net. Decrease in cuttlefish and red mullet and an increase in scorpionfish Field study in the wild Interaction between bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and trammel nets in the Archipelago de La Maddalena, Italy
Ariake Sound and Tachibana Bay Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Bycatch mortality will lead to at least a 29.6-86.3% decrease in the population size over three generations Study in the lab Effects of bycatch on the population viability of the narrow-ridged finless porpoises in Ariake Sound and Tachibana Bay, Japan
Review Gillnets Low profile gillnet Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Pinnipeds, Seabirds, Sea Turtles Summary study Reducing bycatch in gillnets: A sensory ecology perspective
Shannon Estuary, Ireland Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Change in vocalisation rate in static trials when continuous pingers were active Field study in the wild Effects of pingers on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins
Kerala, India Surrounding nets Fence or net barriers Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Not statistically reported; study only administered a questionnaire that collected information on the structure and design of the Dolphin Wall Net (DWN) Not identified None reported Field study in the wild Dolphin Wall Net (DWN) - an innovative management measure devised by ring seine fishermen of Kerala-India to reducing or eliminating marine mammal-fishery interactions
Northwestern Australia Trawls Excluder devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Gillnets fit with BRD's reduced incidental capture of dolphins. Summary study
Non-specific Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Gillnets posed the most risk to cetaceans n/a n/a Summary study A risk-based approach to rapidly screen vulnerability of cetaceans to impacts from fisheries bycatch
Brazil Large Cetaceans (maximum length > 7.5 meters), Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) n/a n/a n/a Field study in the wild Accidents between artisanal fisheries and cetaceans on the Brazilian coast and Central Amazon: proposals for integrated management
Bay of Fundy Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Displaced porpoises initially by 208m, but decreased by 50% after four days n/a n/a Field study in the wild Will harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) habituate to pingers?
Denmark Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Initial response that diminished with additional trials n/a n/a Study in the lab Reactions of captive harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to pinger-like sounds
Neeltje Jans, The Netherlands Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices, Passive acoustic deterrents Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Increased distance from the alarm source and respiration n/a n/a Study in the lab The effects of acoustic alarms on the behavior of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in a floating pen
Peru Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Globicephala spp. (Pilot whale) 37% reduction of bycatch Sharks and rays No effect Field study in the wild Using pingers to reduce bycatch of small cetaceans in Peru's small-scale driftnet fishery
Queensland, Australia Non-specific Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) No significant effect on Australian snubfin and humpback dolphins None None reported Field study in the wild Acoustic alarms elicit only subtle responses in the behavior of tropical coastal dolphins in Queensland, Australia
North Sea Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Pingers spaced at 455 m had 0 bycatch; pingers spaced at 585 m had a bycatch rate of 0.12 Hake None reported Field study in the wild Determining optimal pinger spacing for harbor porpoise bycatch mitigation
North Carolina Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Dolphins were less likely to interact with gillnets and more likely to echolocate Spanish mackerel No effect Field study in the wild A field test of acoustic deterrent devices used to reduce interactions between bottlenose dolphins and a coastal gillnet fishery
Queensland, Australia Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Dolphins heard the F3 pinger 45 m from the net, they could only detect the F10 pinger less than 40 m from the net Sharks None reported Field study in the wild Acoustic characterization of bycatch mitigation pingers on shark control nets in Queensland, Australia
Crozet Islands Hooks-and-Lines Short sets Physeter macrocephalus (Sperm whale), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Less time for interaction with longlines Patagonian toothfish Less depredation Field study in the wild Interactions of Patagonian toothfish fisheries with killer and sperm whales in the Crozet Islands exclusive economic zone: an assessment of depredation levels and insights on possible mitigation strategies
Cornwall Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) There was a significant difference in the number of porpoise clicks between nets with and without pingers, but the extent of displacement could not be determined. No evidence of habituation to the pingers. None reported None reported Field study in the wild Can acoustic deterrent devices reduce by-catch in the Cornish inshore gillnet fishery?
Hawaii Hooks-and-Lines Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Initially disrupted false killer whale's echolocation performance capabilities Summary study False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) echolocation and acoustic disruption: implications for longline bycatch and depredation
Australia Hooks-and-Lines Net sleeves Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) No cetaceans were caught on experimental lines Albacore tuna, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi No effect Field study in the wild Physical and psychological deterrence strategies to mitigate odontocete by-catch and depredation in pelagic longline fisheries: progress report
Global Hooks-and-Lines Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Summary study Odontocete bycatch and depredation in longline fisheries: a review of available literature and of potential solutions
Chilean Patagonia Hooks-and-Lines Net sleeves Physeter macrocephalus (Sperm whale), Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Significantly reduced depredation and interactions with longlines Patagonian toothfish CPUE was higher Field study in the wild Significant conservation benefits obtained from the use of a new fishing gear in the Chilean Patagonian toothfish fishery
Cornwall Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) One incidentally caught harbor porpoise; significant reduction in the number of porpoise clicks at nets with pingers. Pinger effects stronger at quiet sites; no habituation observed, exclusion of porpoises following pinger use for as much as 7 hrs Monkfish None reported Field study in the wild An investigation of acoustic deterrent devices to reduce cetacean bycatch in an inshore set net fishery
Southwest England Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) DDD's caught significantly fewer porpoises but no significant difference in dolphin bycatch was observed None reported None reported Field study in the wild Extension trial of an acoustic deterrent system to minimize dolphin and porpoise bycatch in gill and tangle net fisheries
Seychelles Hooks-and-Lines Net sleeves Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Sock DMD did not affect depredation. Shark depredation was higher Tunas and swordfish Sock DMD did not affect catch rates of target species Field study in the wild Pelagic longline fishing trials to shape a mitigation device of the depredation by toothed whales
Sardinia, Italy Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) No significant effect on bottlenose dolphins' presence, distance from AHD, group size or time spent in the fish farm area fin-fish farm None reported Field study in the wild
Baltic Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Pingers significantly reduced echolocation encounter rates by 50-100% at 500m; sighting reduced up to 375m. Porpoise return time was 6 hrs when pingers were silent after being active for 24 hrs 50 min None reported None reported Field study in the wild Spatial and temporal impact of pingers on porpoises
British Columbia, Canada Gillnets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Salmon Summary study Potential limits to anthropogenic mortality of small cetaceans in coastal waters of British Columbia
North Sea Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Reduced catch rates from 0.00229 and 0.00295 for nets with dummy pingers and no pingers respectively, to 0.00015 for nets with active pingers Cod None reported Field study in the wild The effect of acoustic alarms on the by-catch of harbour porpoises in the Danish North Sea gill net fishery
North Sea Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) 100% reduction in harbor porpoise bycatch Cod None reported Field study in the wild Use of pingers in the Danish North Sea wreck net fishery
Akaroa Harbour, New Zealand Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) 62.5% of individuals elicited avoidance behavior (using white Dukane pingers) None reported None reported Field study in the wild Reactions of Hector's dolphins to acoustic gillnet pingers
Western Australia Trawls Excluder devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced dolphin bycatch by almost 50% and reduced bycatch of sea turtles, large sharks and large rays red emperor, scarlet perch, spangled emperor, Rankin cod, blue spot emperor, rosy threadfin brea, flagfish, frypan snapper, red snapper and goldband snapper Not reported Field study in the wild Evaluation of exclusion grids to reduce the bycatch of dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays in the Pilbara trawl fishery
Turkey Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Reduced harbor porpoise interactions with gillnet turbot fish Use of pingers did not signficiantly affect catch rates or size of fish caught Field study in the wild The effect of pingers on harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena bycatch and fishing effort in the turbot gill net fishery in the Turkish Black Sea coast
North Carolina, USA Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) No difference on group size or closest approach to the net between active and control pingers Mixed None Field study in the wild Behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, to gillnets and acoustic alarms
Mediterranean, Balearic Islands Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) depredation Red mullet Increased target catch and reduced dolphin damage to the catch Field study in the wild Pingers as deterrents of bottlenose dolphins interacting with trammel nets
Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) 49% reduction in depredation rate by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Mixed species Increased target catch (but not significant) Field study in the wild Do pingers reduce interactions between bottlenose dolphins and nets around the Balearic Islands?
Shannon Estuary, Ireland Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Change in behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in boat based trials. not applicable not applicable Field study in the wild Effects of pingers on the behaviour of bottlenose dolphins
Brazil Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Significantly reduced sightings of dolphins Not tested Field study in the wild Behavioral responses of Sotalia fluviatilis (Cetacea, Delphinidae) to acoustic pingers, Fortaleza, Brazil
California Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced bycatch to zero swordfish and sharks Not available Field study in the wild Acoustic pingers eliminate beaked whale bycatch in a gill net fishery
Australia Gillnets Passive acoustic deterrents Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Did not reduce bycatch Trout Field study in the wild Pelagic gillnet modification trials in northern Australian seas
Gulf of Maine Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Gillnets with pingers caught fewer porpoise n/a n/a Field study in the wild Field tests of acoustic devices on groundfish gillnets: assessment of effectiveness in reducing harbour porpoise by-catch
Australia Gillnets Sub-surface sets (gillnets) Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced bycatch Multiple species Decreased target catch Field study in the wild Pelagic gillnet modification trials in northern Australian seas
Argentina Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Pontoporia blainvillei (Franciscana dolphin) Reduced dolphin bycatch Sea trout, croaker, letherjack, Patagonian smooth hound No effect Field study in the wild Reducing incidental mortality of Franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei with acoustic warning devices attached to fishing nets.
Scotland Passive acoustic deterrents Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Increased avoidance actions Trout Field study in the wild Interactions between free-ranging dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and passive acoustic gill-net deterrent devices
Canada Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) 92.4% of porpoise groups avoided pinger equipped floatlines n/a n/a Field study in the wild Deterring harbour porpoise from gillnets: observed reactions to passive reflectors and pingers
United Kingdom Trawls Excluder devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced bycatch Bass Slightly reduced target catch (<1%) Field study in the wild Further development of a dolphin exclusion device
United Kingdom Trawls Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Did not reduce bycatch Bass Field study in the wild Reduction of cetacean bycatch in pelagic trawls
Canada Gillnets Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise), Seabirds Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch Multiple species No difference in catch Field study in the wild Nylon barium sulphate gillnet reduces porpoise and seabird mortality
United Kingdom Trawls Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Did not reduce bycatch Bass Field study in the wild Analysis and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries
Captivity Gillnets Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Increased detectability Trout Field study in the wild Target strength of a nylon monofilament and an acoustically enhanced gillnet: predictions of biosonar detection ranges
Florida Hooks-and-Lines Quick-release gear Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced depredation King mackerel Did not affect target catch Field study in the wild Depredation of catch by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Florida king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) troll fishery
United Kingdom Trawls Excluder devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Did not reduce bycatch Bass Field study in the wild A review of dolphin and porpoise bycatch issues in the Southwest of England
New Zealand Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Dolphins avoided area n/a n/a Field study in the wild Reducing bycatch: can acoustic pingers keep Hector's dolphins out of fishing nets?
Scotland Gillnets Thin twine nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Did not reduce bycatch Trout Field study in the wild Analysis and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries
Scotland Gillnets Thin twine nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Reduced bycatch Trout Field study in the wild Analysis and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries
Scotland Gillnets Metal oxide/barium sulfate nets Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Increased bycatch Trout Field study in the wild Analysis and mitigation of cetacean bycatch in UK fisheries
Florida Traps Trap guards (T-bars, otter guards) Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced interactions with gear Crab Field study in the wild Interactions between the Indian River Lagoon blue crab fishery and the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Canada Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Harbor porpoise avoided area Herring Field study in the wild Reactions of harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena and herring Clupea harengus to acoustic alarms
Canada Non-specific Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) No porpoises were sighted within 200 m of AHD n/a n/a Field study in the wild Effect of the sound generated by an acoustic harassment device on the relative abundance and distribution of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Retreat Passage, British Columbia
United States Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) Reduced harbor porpoise bycatch Multiple species Effect varied by species Field study in the wild Acoustic alarms reduce porpoise mortality
Sweden Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters), Phocoena phocoena (Harbor porpoise) No bycatch in nets with or without pingers Cod and pollock Did not affect target catch Field study in the wild A field experiment using acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce harbour porpoise by-catch in bottom-set gillnets
California Gillnets Acoustic deterrent devices Small Cetaceans (maximum length < 7.5 meters) Reduced bycatch Swordfish & Shark Did not affect catch Field study in the wild Field Experiments Show That Acoustic Pingers Reduce Marine Mammal Bycatch in the California Drift Gill Net Fishery