In response to the Government of Mexico today permanently banning the use of gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California, Jorge Rickards, acting CEO of WWF-Mexico, said:
“While the Mexican government has committed to developing new fishing gear and techniques to allow local fishermen to pursue legal and sustainable fishing activities, WWF stresses the need for local communities to have access to existing vaquita-safe gear immediately. Community support and engagement is absolutely fundamental to conservation efforts.
“Urgent coordinated action by the Mexican, US and Chinese governments is still needed to end the illegal trading of totoaba swim bladders which has driven gillnet use in the Upper Gulf of California in recent years. Without collective action, both the last remaining vaquitas and the outstanding biodiversity of their habitat remain at risk.”
A WWF statement responding to Mexico committing to critical measures to save the vaquita is available here.
Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact:
Scott Edwards | WWF International | sedwards@wwfint.org | +44 7887 954116
About WWF
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