If the Vaquita is to be saved, four things need to happen:
- The gillnet ban is made permanent
- The ban is properly enforced
- The Totoaba swim bladder trade is shut down
- Alternative, Vaquita-safe fishing gear is developed and implemented
These are not going to be easy to accomplish, but Mexico certainly has the power and will to make them all a reality.
We need to show our support and clarify exactly what needs to be done to save this species. But how can I tell the Mexican government these four things? How can I make my voice heard?
Now there is an easy way.
The VIVA Vaquita Coalition has started a petition to get this message to:
These people are extremely influential and literally have the power in their hands to save the Vaquita. If they agree to the four things above, the Vaquita will most likely thrive.
Signing the petition is extremely easy. All you have to do is fill in your name, email address, etc. and press Sign! Or you can log in to Change.org with Facebook or email, and literally just click one button to sign!
If there is one thing you ever do for the Vaquita, make it signing this petition.
Thank you from the VV coalition and the Vaquita.
To learn more and sign, click here:
https://www.change.org/p/make-the-gillnet-ban-permanent-to-save-the-vaquita
And don’t forget to support the Thunderclap!
V-log 
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your endearing efforts to bring awareness to the most critically endangered cetacean on the face of our planet! However, I couldn’t help but notice that, under your ‘how to help’ tab, that Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was not included in your list. Two of their ships, a research vessel, The R/V Martin Sheen, and their most recently acquired motor vessel, the 110 foot retired Coast Guard Cutter ‘Block Island’, befittingly renamed The M/V Farley Mowat (named, of course, for the Canadian author and naturist, and antecedent flagship of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society), are in the Sea of Cortez, at this moment. They are there at the request of the Mexican government to research our ‘little cow’ porpoise, the local fishermen and the modes of fishing they employ. Additionally, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ships, along with the Mexican Navy, are working side by side to deter illegal fishing, pull and destroy any and all gillnets and drag lines, and rescue and release any collateral/incidental catch that van be saved… If I may, I’d like to offer you even more information that, I feel, can help educate those who follow you, and, take awareness for the direct action crew that puts themselves between the harpoon and the whale, between the club and the seal… i would really appreciate the opportunity to contact you so we can benefit from the information we each have and can share with each other and each other’s audience.
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Thank you so much! Yes, I am very familiar with Sea Shepherd and of course their Operation Milagro. I am tremendously excited by the progress they have made in the past few weeks alone! I have written about them a bunch on this site, for example my post from about a month ago: https://vlogvaquita.com/2015/12/22/happy-holidays/. I also have a link to their support/donation page in the sidebar, as well as a link to their homepage all the way at the bottom of the sidebar under “Assisting Organizations.” I will put a link to their support/donation page in my How to Help section. If you would like, you can email me at gl.tamarin123@gmail.com. Thank you!
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Thank you for your work and efforts.
Has ecotourism as an alternative to fishing been considered-
engaging and training the fishermen and community?
This has been successful in Laguna San Ignacio, and now happening in Bahia de Petatlan.
Conservation and restoration worldwide seem most successful when the local community is involved and responsible. Economic and ecosytem health are supported and become better- a win win for all!
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Yes, that is one of the main parts of the petition and our goals moving forward! Ecotourism holds a lot of potential in the upper Gulf and we will be working on implementing it!
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Great! I will promote it more as well!
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