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Slides from Dr. Tom Jefferson's vaquita presentation at El Dorado Ranch, San Felipe, Mexico 6/25/10
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¡Viva Vaquita! Can We Save the World’sMost Endangered MarineMammal Species?
Thomas A. JeffersonCetos Research Organization, San Diego, CA
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AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
EDR for inviting me hereEDR for inviting me here Main research collaborators: T. Kieckhefer, T. Main research collaborators: T. Kieckhefer, T.
Nowlan, S. Spencer, J. Muskus, and L. Nowlan, S. Spencer, J. Muskus, and L. Rojas-BrachoRojas-Bracho
Team VaquitaTeam Vaquita: A. & S. Baldridge, S. : A. & S. Baldridge, S. Eastham, D. Glim, T. Kieckhefer, D. Kutz, R. Eastham, D. Glim, T. Kieckhefer, D. Kutz, R. Puckett, R. Rodriguez, Maris Sidenstecker I, Puckett, R. Rodriguez, Maris Sidenstecker I, Maris Sidenstecker IIMaris Sidenstecker II
General support: H. Chan, SWFSC staffGeneral support: H. Chan, SWFSC staff Many volunteersMany volunteers Funding sources and SEMARNATFunding sources and SEMARNAT
Funding SourcesFunding Sources
Anonymous Foundation
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Talk OutlineTalk Outline
History of marine mammal extinctionsHistory of marine mammal extinctions Background on the vaquitaBackground on the vaquita Brief summary of our 2008 photo Brief summary of our 2008 photo
projectproject Education/public awareness effortsEducation/public awareness efforts What you can do and concluding What you can do and concluding
thoughtsthoughts
Steller’s Sea Cow - EXTINCTThe last individual killed in 1768, 27 years after discovery
Northern Elephant Seal - RECOVEREDReduced to about 50 individuals near turn of the 20th Century
Gray Whale - RECOVEREDENP Stock twice reduced to near extinction, but has since recovered
West Indian Monk Seal - EXTINCTWiped out by sealing and collections for museums in the 1950s
Baiji - EXTINCTDeclared extinct in 2006, as a result of habitat destruction
Take Home MessageTake Home Message
We have had mixed success at saving We have had mixed success at saving endangered marine mammalsendangered marine mammals
We’re pretty good at saving them from We’re pretty good at saving them from direct huntingdirect hunting
We don’t have a very good a record We don’t have a very good a record when the problems are varied and when the problems are varied and involve habitat destructioninvolve habitat destruction
Six Species of Porpoises - Six Species of Porpoises - Four Species of Four Species of PhocoenaPhocoena
Spectacled PorpoiseHarbor Porpoise
Burmeister’s Porpoise
Vaquita
Two Species in Other Genera -Two Species in Other Genera -Dall’s and Finless PorpoisesDall’s and Finless Porpoises
Dall’s Porpoise Finless Porpoise
What’s a Vaquita?What’s a Vaquita?
A. Robles
The vaquita is a small porpoise in The vaquita is a small porpoise in the family Phocoenidae.the family Phocoenidae.
It is one of only seven species of It is one of only seven species of true porpoises.true porpoises.
It is found in a tiny area in the It is found in a tiny area in the extreme northern Gulf of extreme northern Gulf of California.California.
It is a unique species, with a body It is a unique species, with a body shape and color pattern unlike that shape and color pattern unlike that of any other. of any other.
It has a tall dorsal fin and a It has a tall dorsal fin and a beautiful color pattern, with dark beautiful color pattern, with dark eye rings and lip patches.eye rings and lip patches.
‘‘Panda of the Sea’.Panda of the Sea’.
Vaquita FactsVaquita Facts
Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish.Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish.
At about 5 feet (1.5 m), the smallest cetacean.At about 5 feet (1.5 m), the smallest cetacean.
Lives only about a 4 hour drive from San Diego.Lives only about a 4 hour drive from San Diego.
Give birth only every other year.Give birth only every other year.
Live to be about 20-21 years old.Live to be about 20-21 years old.
Never been held in aquaria.Never been held in aquaria.
Rarest and Rarest and most-endangeredmost-endangered marine mammal. marine mammal.
Fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf ecosystem.Fate is tied to that of the upper Gulf ecosystem.
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Species OnlySpecies OnlyDescribed in Described in 19581958
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Vaquita Vaquita DistributionDistribution
Most restricted distribution of ANY marine cetacean
< 4,000 km2
(1/4 the size of the LA area)
Shallow Shallow DepthsDepths
San Felipe
Occurs only in the shallow (10-50 m) depths of the northern Gulfof California
HighHighProductivityProductivity San Felipe
Vaquita habitat is highly productive
The Problem - GillnetsThe Problem - Gillnets
The Solution - Remove GillnetsThe Solution - Remove Gillnets
Plan to compensate gillnet fishermen Plan to compensate gillnet fishermen for giving up gillnet fishing in the for giving up gillnet fishing in the vaquita’s range. vaquita’s range.
Done through a ‘buy-out’ program, a Done through a ‘buy-out’ program, a ‘rent-out’ program, and the development ‘rent-out’ program, and the development of alternative fishing gear. of alternative fishing gear.
We applaud Mexico for these efforts.We applaud Mexico for these efforts. However, recent economic events have However, recent economic events have
slowed progress.slowed progress. The vaquita does not have time to The vaquita does not have time to
wait…wait…
History of the PopulationHistory of the Population
Vaquita abundance - solid lineVaquita abundance - solid line Capture history of totoaba - circlesCapture history of totoaba - circles Number of gillnet pangas - squaresNumber of gillnet pangas - squares Est. annual vaquita mortality - trianglesEst. annual vaquita mortality - triangles
Source:Jaramillo-Legorreta 2008
Latest Abundance EstimateLatest Abundance Estimate
Tim Gerrodette (SWFSC) has generated a Tim Gerrodette (SWFSC) has generated a new estimate from the 2008 new estimate from the 2008 JordanJordan survey survey datadata
Best estimate is 250 individualsBest estimate is 250 individuals This does NOT indicate an increase in This does NOT indicate an increase in
abundanceabundance Decline rate can not be estimated accurately, Decline rate can not be estimated accurately,
but its clear a decline has occurred since but its clear a decline has occurred since 19971997
Mexico’s Large Gillnet FleetMexico’s Large Gillnet Fleet
Shrimp TrawlingShrimp Trawling
Among Highest Conservation Among Highest Conservation Priorities of All MammalsPriorities of All Mammals
Vaquita
Source:Isaac etal. 2007 - “Mammals on the EDGE…”
Existing Photos - Dead Existing Photos - Dead PorpoisesPorpoises
A. Robles A. Robles
Best Photos Before 2008 - Best Photos Before 2008 - Blurry, Grainy ImagesBlurry, Grainy Images
G. Silber
G. Ybarra
Only previous photo to show a vaquita face
October 2008 - San Felipe October 2008 - San Felipe Photo ExpeditionPhoto Expedition
David Starr JordanDavid Starr Jordan
After 18 Frustrating Days… After 18 Frustrating Days… Success! - High-Quality PhotosSuccess! - High-Quality Photos
Then… 13 Then… 13 Sightings Sightings in 13 Days!in 13 Days!
Rocas Consag
SanFelipe
Colorado River Delta
When seas were calm, and we searched the right area,we found vaquitas
All Sightings in Vicinity of Rocas All Sightings in Vicinity of Rocas ConsagConsag
Vaquita
Rocas Consag
Rocas ConsagRocas ConsagThis island can be seen from anywhere in the range of the species
87 m (285 ft)
The Importance of Calm SeasThe Importance of Calm Seas
Beaufort 0-2/3, average Beau 0.92
Photo-identification Photo-identification ISIS Possible Possible
Four Individuals IDedFour Individuals IDed
Nicola
Mid-nick
Top-nick
Fingertip
EnforcementEnforcementBoth Navy and PROFEPA were out in force
The End?… Hopefully Not for The End?… Hopefully Not for the Vaquita!the Vaquita!
2010 Field Work in Mexico2010 Field Work in Mexico
We have been conducting field work on the vaquita We have been conducting field work on the vaquita since 7 June 2010since 7 June 2010
We hope to build up our photo-identification catalogWe hope to build up our photo-identification catalog Only a single sighting of vaquitasOnly a single sighting of vaquitas We have done some local education/awareness work We have done some local education/awareness work
as wellas well
Creation of New WebsiteCreation of New Website
www.vivavaquita.org
Sea Otter Classic BoothSea Otter Classic Booth
Viva Vaquita booth at Viva Vaquita booth at SOC April 16-18, 2010SOC April 16-18, 2010
40-50K people attended 40-50K people attended the eventthe event
Great opportunity to Great opportunity to preach beyond the preach beyond the convertedconverted
Come by and support Come by and support us next year!us next year!
Education and Public Education and Public AwarenessAwareness
Special Issue of Special Issue of WhalewatcherWhalewatcher Popular/newspaper articlesPopular/newspaper articles Booths at other outdoor/environmental eventsBooths at other outdoor/environmental events Series of lectures and school programsSeries of lectures and school programs Printing and distribution of brochuresPrinting and distribution of brochures Adopt-A-Porpoise programAdopt-A-Porpoise program Any other ideas?Any other ideas?
What you can do...What you can do...
Tell all your friends and family about the vaquita.Tell all your friends and family about the vaquita.
Vote for politicians with a good environmental record.Vote for politicians with a good environmental record.
Support the economy by traveling to Mexico.Support the economy by traveling to Mexico.
Don’t buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets.Don’t buy shrimp or fish caught with gillnets.
Write your elected officials and tell them to help.Write your elected officials and tell them to help.
Write letters to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment.Write letters to Mexico’s Ministry of Environment.
Send vaquita drawings to the United Nations.Send vaquita drawings to the United Nations.
Donate to NGOs with Vaquita Recovery Funds!Donate to NGOs with Vaquita Recovery Funds!
In 5 or 10 years, will the vaquita In 5 or 10 years, will the vaquita still be here?still be here?
Illustration by Uko Gorter
Visit www.vivavaquita.orgto learn more about how you can help…
¡Viva Vaquita!