Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/mexico-uses-drones-to-protect-endangered-porpoise/

It seems that they may soon be using drones to patrol some areas of the upper Sea of Cortez in Mexico. The aim of the drone use is to stop illegal fishing and save the vaquita marina, the smallest porpoise in the world. That porpoise also happens to be critically endangered.

Alejandro del Mazo is the Assistant environmental prosecutor who talks about the tests of drones that were conducted by his agency. They worked along with the Mexican Navy to conduct those tests and hopefully, three drones will be patrolling the habitat of the porpoise very soon. The only place in the world where you will find vaquitas is in the Gulf of California.

“We are considering the use of advanced technology, because drones would allow us to have permanent aerial patrols in the area and be able to react much more efficiently and quickly,” Del Mazo said, according to Fox News.

Illegal gillnet fishing has taken a toll on the porpoises, and there are less than 100 remaining. Those gillnets are used to fish for totoaba, because their swim bladder is used by chefs in China.

In 2014, 17 people were arrested by Mexican authorities for trafficking totoaba bladders, which is illegal in Mexico.

Someone else who weighed in on the situation is the head of Mexico’s national protected areas, Lewis Fueyo. Fox News reports that he said that Mexico is working along with the United States authorities because those bladders are often dried and shipped through California before reaching China.

A $37 million plan has been established by Mexican authorities and the proposal was given in December. The upper half of the Gulf of California would be off-limits to gillnet fishing, as it would be illegal. At the mouth of the Colorado River Delta, there is already an area that is protected. The area would extend south if the proposal goes through.

In essence, the entire known range of the porpoise would be included in the protected area. It is thought that the ban may be in place within two years.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department would be responsible for paying some of the fishermen to patrol the area and report any violations. During some months of the year, certain non-threatening net fishing techniques would be permissible.

According to Fueyo, a bigger plan is needed.

“The vaquita can’t recover in two years, because they only reproduce every two years, and only 25 of those left are of reproducing age,” said Fueyo, as reported by Fox News. “In order to recover a population of 5,000 individuals, there will have to be a long range plan of 20 or 30 years.”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog