The Most Endangered Sea Creature You’ve Never Heard Of: The Vaquita
- Anna Casperin
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
Hidden beneath the surface of Mexico’s Gulf of California swims a creature so rare, many people don’t even know it exists.
The vaquita, a small porpoise with dark eyes, a gentle face, and a shy demeanor, is the most endangered marine mammal on Earth.
Vaquitas are the smallest members of the porpoise family, reaching only about 4 to 5 feet in length and weighing up to 120 pounds. They live exclusively in the northern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, a small stretch of water that’s home to incredible biodiversity.
But despite living in such a rich ecosystem, the vaquita’s population has plummeted. As of 2024, surveys estimate that only 6 to 8 vaquitas remain in the wild. These numbers come from joint field surveys by Sea Shepherd and Mexico’s Commission of Protected Areas (CONANP), which used acoustic monitoring and drone imagery to identify the few survivors (Sea Shepherd, 2024).
Encouragingly, the 2025 monitoring season (May through September) reported 7 to 10 vaquitas, including the sighting of new calves!
Researchers relied on acoustic detection, drone footage, and visual surveys to confirm these observations. Some individuals documented during the 2025 season had not been recorded in recent years, suggesting that vaquitas may be using a slightly broader range than previously understood.
These findings, shared by Sea Shepherd and the Mexican government, confirm that despite their critically low numbers, vaquitas are still reproducing. Scientists caution that the surveyed area represents only part of the population’s range, but every sighting, and especially each calf, is a sign that recovery is still possible. Scientists stress, however, that reproduction alone will not save the species if gillnets remain in the water. With such a small population, even a single entanglement could erase years of fragile progress.
While scientists caution that the exact number is uncertain because vaquitas are elusive and the surveyed area is small, the trend is clear: their population has dropped by more than 95% since the early 2000s (Marine Mammal Commission, 2024).
How Did It Get This Bad?
The primary threat to the vaquita isn’t natural, it’s human.
These porpoises often become entangled in illegal gillnets set to catch another endangered species, the totoaba fish. The totoaba’s swim bladder is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine, fetching thousands of dollars on the black market.
While the trade in totoaba is illegal, the high profits have kept the fishing alive, and gillnets, though banned, continue to be used. For the vaquita, these nets are deadly traps they cannot escape.
Conservation Efforts: A Race Against Time
In recent years, global and local organizations have united to protect what’s left of the vaquita population. The Mexican government, along with groups like Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, WWF, and the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA), are working to remove gillnets, patrol the area, and promote sustainable fishing methods.
There have been small signs of hope. Sightings of mother-and-calf pairs suggest that vaquitas are still reproducing. Even more encouraging, scientists have found that their genetic diversity remains relatively healthy, meaning that if we can eliminate the threat of gillnets, the population could recover.
What You Can Do
🐬 Spread the word. Most people have never heard of the vaquita, and awareness is the first step toward change.
🌊 Support organizations working in the Gulf of California to remove illegal nets and protect marine life:
🐟 Be an informed consumer. Avoid seafood caught with gillnets and look for sustainably sourced labels like MSC Certified.
The vaquita’s story is heartbreaking, but it’s not over yet. With awareness, cooperation, and compassion, we can give this tiny porpoise a fighting chance at survival. For me, stories like this are a reminder that conservation isn’t just about saving species, it’s about recognizing the deep connection between all living things and the choices we make every day.
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