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Scientists have confirmed a ‘catastrophic decline’ in vaquita numbers due to bycatch in illegal fishing nets set to capture the endangered totoaba fish.
Only around 60 individuals remain of the world’s smallest and most critically endangered cetacean species, a decline of more than 92 per cent since 1997 when the first census was carried out.
Despite significant conservation efforts by the Mexican Government, including a two-year ban on the gillnets that ensnare vaquita, and major enforcement efforts by the Mexican Navy and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, three dead vaquita were found in March, all killed in illegal gillnets.
The demand for totoaba swim bladders, known as ‘golden coin maw’ due to their high value on the Chinese black market, is the main threat to the survival of the vaquita, yet the enforcement response in the main totoaba markets of Hong Kong and China remains seriously inadequate.
EIA Oceans Campaign Team leader Clare Perry said: “To have any hope of recovery, we need to stop the bycatch of vaquita in gillnets.
“Mexico cannot do this alone – China must significantly ramp up efforts to address the market for totoaba maw and work with Mexico, the US and other countries to clamp down on the illegal international trade in totoaba.”
灭绝在即:海湾鼠海豚全球仅存60头
科学家刚刚确认了海湾鼠海豚种群数量 “灾难性” 下降。下降的原因是对同一海域内的加湾石首鱼的非法捕捞,常常误捕海湾鼠海豚。
海湾鼠海豚是世界上最小的、最濒危的鲸目动物,全世界仅存大约60头。其数量自1997年第一次种群调查以来下降了92%以上。
尽管墨西哥政府采取了可观的保护措施:例如实施了一项为期两年对捕捉海湾鼠海豚的刺网的禁令,以及墨西哥海军和海洋看守协会进行了大型执法项目。今年三月,三只海湾鼠海豚因非法刺网捕捉而死。
对加湾石首鱼鱼鳔的需求是海湾鼠海豚最大的威胁。加湾石首鱼鱼鳔(也称花胶)以其高昂的身价拔得头筹,中国黑市常称“金钱鳘”。香港和中国是金钱鳘最大的市场,不过其对应执法仍然极为不足。
EIA海洋项目负责人Clare Perry表示: “海湾鼠海豚生存的唯一可能,取决于我们是否能停止海湾鼠海豚因刺网而死这个现象。”
“墨西哥不能单独成功。中国必须要极大加强针对加湾石首鱼花胶市场的执法,并且要跟墨西哥、美国等国家政府合作,打击加湾石首鱼花胶的非法国际贸易。”