UNESCO Sets Deadline for Mexico to Protect Vaquita Porpoise
Mexico is required to present actionable steps by February 1, 2027, to safeguard the critically endangered vaquita porpoise and its habitat. UNESCO's World Heritage Committee emphasized the need for concrete measures against threats, including LNG projects in the Gulf of California.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has mandated Mexico to provide evidence of effective measures to protect the vaquita porpoise by February 1, 2027, amidst escalating global conservation efforts. The committee's recent meeting in Busan, South Korea, was pivotal in addressing the risks posed by liquefied natural gas projects, specifically Saguaro Energía LNG and AMIGO GNL, to the Gulf of California ecosystem.
The vaquita, listed as critically endangered, faces threats primarily from illegal fishing practices targeting totoaba fish, exacerbated by legal and illegal fishing gear. Monitoring efforts have estimated a current population of 7 to 10 vaquitas, indicating stabilization but remaining critically low. The situation underscores the urgent need for Mexico to demonstrate progress in mitigating these threats to ensure the vaquita's survival.




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