Fun Fact July 2, 2021.
Here’s a list you don’t want to be on; the most endangered species list. Number one on that list is the Vaquita, a small marine mammal in the porpoise family. Current estimates are that there are less than 20 of these small mammals left in the wild. The reason they are dying is due to illegal use of gillnets in their habitat. The gillnets are used to catch Totoaba, a fish similar in size to the Vaquita. The use of gillnest in Vaquita habitat has been illegal since August of 1975, yet many fishing vessels continue to use them. The saddest thing about this is the Totoaba isn’t caught for food, but for it’s swim bladder that, when dried, is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s medicinal effectiveness has yet to be proven. Even the Totoaba are now becoming scarce and as they do, the price of their swim bladders continue to go up, rivaling the price of cocaine. All this is taking place off the coast of Mexico, in the Sea Of Cortez, also knows as the Gulf Of California. It’s the illegal fishing practices that threaten the Vaquita.
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