Last updated: July 22 nd, 2015

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1 I. Background TOTOABA (TOTOABA MACDONALDI) AND VAQUITA PORPOISE (PHOCOENA SINUS): TWO ENDANGERED SPECIES ENDEMIC TO MEXICO Last updated: July 22 nd, Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a fish endemic to Mexico, highly valued in the international market for its gas bladder, to which medicinal and aphrodisiac properties are attributed (Image 1). Image 1. Totoaba macdonaldi. Source: CONABIO It is imported mainly by China and Japan, occasionally through the United States. The overexploitation of its wild populations, coupled by the degradation of its habitat, ultimately led to the establishment of a ban on its fisheries in 1975 (Image 2). The species is listed as endangered under Mexico s domestic legislation (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010), as well as under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA), which prohibits its export and import from the USA. Furthermore, the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the species as Critically Endangered (CR), according to the 2007 assessment (published in 2010). 2. Similarly, the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus), also endemic to Mexico, is considered the most endangered cetacean in the world. It is listed as endangered under Mexico s domestic legislation (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010) as well as under the United States Endangered Species Act. Furthermore, the Red List of the IUCN lists the species as Critically Endangered, being its main threat the incidental by catch by the illegal harvest of totoaba, which has led to a drastic fall of its wild population, which is thought to be of less than 100 individuals (CIRVA-V, 2014) (Images 2 and 3). Página 1 de 5

2 Imagen 2. A vaquita accidentally caught in the net of a fisherman in The incidental by catch is the main threat to this species. Source: Cristian Faezi/Omar Vidal, WWF Imagen 3. A fisherman holds a vaquita (Phocoena sinus) that was trapped in a gill net of sharks and other fish in the Gulf of California. Source: Filip Nicklin/Minden Pictures 3. Since 1993, Mexico has established measures aimed towards the conservation of totoaba and vaquita, among which the following stand out: a) The Presidential Decree that grants the Upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River Delta, where both species inhabit, a Biosphere of the Reserve status under the national system of protected natural areas. As such, it is covered by the General Act of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA, 1988), and its associated regulations; b) The publication of the Mexican Official Standard (012-PESC-1993) which, inter alia, establishes requirements for fishing gear to avoid totoaba harvest and vaquita by catch; c) The development of studies to update the technical and scientific knowledge of these species, which have served as the basis for decision making processes both at national and international levels. For example, within the framework of CITES periodic review of Appendices I and II, Mexico s recommendation to maintain the listing of totoaba under Appendix I was successfully endorsed by the 17 th meeting of the Animals Committee (AC17 Inf. 6; Hanoi 2001). Página 2 de 5

3 4. On the other hand, since 2008 the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) develops a research project on the Optimization and evaluation of molecular markers to ensure the traceability of both captive and wild stocks of totoaba, which has yielded promising results regarding the traceability of totoaba through molecular markers. The outcomes of the project could serve as the basis for the development and adoption of a regional system to monitor the legal and illegal trade of totoaba. II. Recent activities set in place by Mexico to address the critical situation of Totoaba and Vaquita 5. In view of the increased international trade of totoaba, with practices that are constantly changing (Image 4), Mexico has set in place the following measures: Image 4. In November 2014, the Mexican Enforcement Authority to CITES (PROFEPA) seized 385 specimens of dried bladder of totoaba, contained in three packages from Mexicali (Baja California) destined to China. Source: PROFEPA a) In March 2015, the Mexican Senate ruled the Federal Executive Power to request CITES to adopt pertinent measures to ensure that China and the United States halt the purchase and illegal traffic of totoaba; and b) On April 16, 2015, President Enrique Peña Nieto Launched in San Felipe (Baja California) the Programme on the Comprehensive care of the Upper Gulf (Image 5), with the involvement of the Ministries of Interior, National Defense, Marine, Finance, Transport and Communication, Agriculture and Livestock, Natural Resources, as well as the Attorney General s Office and the Governments of Sonora and Baja California. i. Prevention of illegal fishing activities; ii. Preservation of the marine ecosystem and the Reserve of the Biosphere; iii. Avoidance of the illegal trafficking in species listed as endangered under the Mexican Legislation; and iv. Prevention of the presence of organized crime groups dedicated to illegal drug dealing through the marine environment. Página 3 de 5

4 Image 5. President Enrique Peña Nieto launching the Programme on the Comprehensive care of the Upper Gulf on April 16 th, 2015 (Baja California, México). Fuente: Talla Política 6. During the XX Annual Meeting or the Trilateral Committee (Canada-Mexico-USA) for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management (San Diego, USA; April 13 to 17 th, 2015), and per request of Mexico, the North American region agreed to collaborate to address the totoabavaquita problematic through: a) The establishment of actions for the exchange of information, experiences and lessons learnt, and the analysis of available information for its transformation in intelligence; b) The development of outreach and identification materials directed to all relevant stakeholders, including authorities and consumers; and c) The development and implementation of joint vigilance and inspection activities to strengthen the implementation of CITES, and to close the frontiers towards the illegal trade of totoaba. References CIRVA-V, Reporte de la quinta reunión del 'Comité Internacional para la Recuperación de la Vaquita' (CIRVA).. [Online] Available at: Quinta-Reunion-del-CIRVA.pdf [Accessed 22 julio 2015]. ESA, Endangered Species Act as Ammended trhough the 108th Congress. [Online] Available at: IUCN, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [En línea] Available at: [Último acceso: 28 junio 2014]. LGEEPA, Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente. Diario Oficial de la Federación. Página 4 de 5

5 SEMARNAT, Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, Protección ambiental - Especies nativas de México de flora y fauna silvestres -Categorías de riesgo y especificaciones para su inclusión, exclusión o cambio -Lista de especies en riesgo. s.l.:secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. Página 5 de 5