The vaquita is now the most critically endangered small cetacean in the world. In 2006, its population was estimated at 400 (Blackwell, 2006). But more recently, its population size is estimated to be only about 200, further declining every year (Kirby, 2012). While genetic analyses and population simulations initially suggested that the vaquita has always been rare and that its population reduction has occurred over evolutionary time, it has more recently been discovered that its mortality rate is due to anthropogenic factors. Other hypotheses for the decline in the vaquita population that have been studied are that the water flowing from the Colorado River was polluted which decreases the flow of freshwater, or that the mortality rate is a product of inbreeding (D’agrosa et al. 2000). However, the biggest reason for the decline of vaquitas living in the temperate waters of the Gulf of California is that they are simply victims …show more content…
The Mexican government finally created the Upper Gulf of California and Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve in 2005 in an effort to create a safer environment for the vaquita. The reserve encompasses an area where approximately 80% of the vaquita sightings have occurred (Blackwell, 2006). Additionally, a $1 million fund has been developed to compensate fishermen. The fund is used in three ways: 1) Buyout – this enables fisherman to convert to economic activities other than fishing; 2) Switchout- fisherman are provided vaquita-safe equipment; and 3) Biodiversity Conservation or Rent-out – this program compensates fisherman for not fishing in the reserve (D’agrosa et al. 2000). Then, on October 28, 2008, Canada, Mexico, and the United States launched the North American Conservation Action Plan (NACAP) for the vaquita, under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), a NAFTA environmental organization (CEC website,