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A Baby Humpback Whale Plays Near the Surface in Blue Water

New report by Deloitte and WDC does a deep dive into the opportunities for businesses in embracing oceanic biodiversity

Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and Deloitte have released a new report that shines a...
Nets set in Norway to catch minke whales

Minke whale dies before cruel hearing experiments begin

Nets set in Norway to catch minke whales A cruel and pointless experiment to test...
WDC joins local protesters on anti whaling march in Iceland

Pressure mounts in Iceland as latest survey shows majority of local people want whale hunting to end

WDC joins local protesters on anti whaling march in Iceland For the first time, those...

New government marine wildlife code to help reduce dolphin disturbance

The launch today by UK Government of new guidance on how to act responsibly around...

Trade sanctions announced after Mexico fails to protect near extinct porpoise

Vaquita - Thomas Jefferson

The international body behind the treaty that protects endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade has announced sanctions against Mexico for its failure to control illegal fishing and trade that endangers the vaquita porpoise.

CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has asked most nations around the globe to suspend all commercial trade with Mexico in certain listed species, amounting to millions of dollars in wildlife products.

The plight of the vaquita is a desperate one with some reports stating that less than 10 now remain. WDC has been pushing for action at CITES meetings to help the vaquita for some time and this news is welcomed.

Vaquitas are the world’s smallest and one of the most endangered species of whale, dolphin or porpoise on the planet. Found only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of California, the population has declined by more than 75% in the past three years alone. In Spanish, vaquita means ‘little cow’ and many local people believe them to be ‘mythical creatures’ as most have never seen one and photographs, until recently, were lacking.

The single biggest threat to this species is accidental catch in illegal fisheries targeting yet another endangered species, a fish known as the totoaba. Smuggled into China, dried totoaba swim bladders, worth more than $10,000 each, are used to make maw, a soup thought to boost fertility.

There are over 3,000 animals and plants from Mexico listed under CITES, and many of these species are exported. These include lucrative products, such as crocodile leather, mahogany, tarantulas, pet reptiles, cacti, and other plants.

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