Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announces Operation Milagro

by Sea Shepherd USA on 21 Apr 2015 Operation Milagro – With less than 100 vaquitas remaining, Sea Shepherd is protecting this endangered porpoise in the only place it calls home!

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's crew aboard the research vessel, R/V Martin Sheen, has been present in the Sea of Cortez for more than a month on Operation Milagro (Operation Miracle), a campaign dedicated to the protection of the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. With only an estimated 97 vaquitas remaining, this campaign addresses the urgent need to protect these vulnerable marine mammals from extinction.

Sea Shepherd is collecting data, documenting the plight of the vaquita in its marine refuge, in an effort to collaborate with scientific and conservation efforts. Sea Shepherd has also been active in conducting outreach in the region, meeting with marine biologists, vaquita experts and other NGOs in Mexico in a cooperative effort to assist this endangered species.

The vaquitas often fall victim as by-catch in gillnets set by both legal and illegal fisheries. The biggest threat to the vaquitas’ survival is likely now the gillnets of illegal poaching operations seeking the totoaba fish – a critically endangered marine species itself.

Mexico is inspiring hope for the vaquita by taking vital steps to conserve this species found only in the waters of Mexico’s Gulf of California, including enacting a two-year moratorium on gillnet fishing in the vaquita’s habitat, providing speedboats to the Navy to patrol the reserve, and creating a net “buy-out” program to compensate fishermen who agree to stop using gillnets. The government will also strongly encourage the use of other, less destructive fishing methods.

Sea Shepherd hopes to work with Mexico in its ongoing efforts in this region to protect the diminishing vaquita population and its habitat.

Join us to create a “miracle” for the vaquita: There is hope that the vaquita population can slowly rebound – if effective measures are quickly put in place. You can get involved too and be a part of the efforts to protect these critically endangered porpoises before it is too late! Please raise awareness of the important issues facing the vaquita among your network and reduce or, better yet, eliminate your consumption of seafood.


To learn more about Operation Milagro and how you can help the critically endangered vaquita, visit website