Protect Critically Endangered Vaquita from Extinction

Vaquitas are the most endangered of the world's marine mammals. With as few as10 vaquitas left on the planet, they are on the razor’s edge of extinction. If we don’t act now, vaquitas could disappear forever.

Mexico has made it clear that the only thing that will force it to save the vaquita is tangible economic pressure. Add your name now to tell President Biden to intervene to save the vaquita, before it’s too late.

Urge President Biden to use strong trade sanctions to force Mexico to pull the vaquita back from the brink.

Photo: NOAA

Vaquitas are the most endangered of the world's marine mammals. With as few as 10 vaquitas left on the planet, they are on the razor’s edge of extinction. If we don’t act now, vaquitas could disappear forever.

Due to illegal fishing, the vaquita population has plummeted from 567 individuals to as few as 10. Mexico’s failure to control illegal fishing and enforce its prohibition on the use of gillnets, a wildly destructive method of fishing, in the narrow strip of habitat where vaquitas live is a reckless, irresponsible choice.

Mexico has made it clear that the only thing that will force it to save the vaquita is tangible economic pressure. President Biden has the chance to embargo seafood from Mexico and impose other strong sanctions to intervene on behalf of the vaquita — but time is running out for him to do so.

Add your name now to tell President Biden to intervene to save the vaquita, before it’s too late.

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Your Message

Subject Impose sanctions on Mexico to save the vaquita

Dear President Biden,

Message Body

Dear President Biden:

As few as ten vaquita remain. Illegal fishing continues in their protected habitat, and fishers remain brazen in their continued violations.

The failure to enforce the gillnet prohibition in the Upper Gulf of California is indicative of a systemic problem in Mexico to responsibly manage and enforce its fishing regulations – and the United States must act to force them to save what few vaquitas remain.

Mexico has made it clear that the only thing that will force it to save the vaquita is tangible economic pressure. Its September 2020 regulations were a direct response to the import ban imposed by the United States. Now is not the time to reduce pressure. Now is the time to apply more.

Mexico has a choice. It can save the vaquita by enforcing its laws and regulations or it can let the vaquita go extinct. It has already shown that it is inclined to choose extinction. The United States and others, like the Parties to CITES, should make Mexico pay a very high price for that choice.

I urge you to impose strong sanctions that include embargoing imports on seafood and other wildlife from Mexico to force the country to act to save the critically endangered vaquita before they’re gone forever.

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