How to save the vaquita (5 ways you can): “Education - The best way to help marine life is to become familiar with the topic and spread awareness. Most people don’t even realize the creatures like the Vaquita or other porpoises exist. The more people that know about the struggles of marine life the better! Donate – Many organizations are collecting funds to help aid conservation. Save the Vaquita is just one of many that are gathering donations to supply fishermen with safer nets, ones that porpoises can easily get out of (Save the Vaquita: Mexico's desert porpoise). But there are countless other organizations that require donations to help marine life too. Adopt (symbolically of course) – Don’t worry you won’t have to make room in the swimming pool. This adoption is a metaphorical one. You receive a certificate saying you “adopted” a creature. It is a one-time fee that is inexpensive. Porpoise.org offers the option as well as WWF who not only offers adoptions for marine life but land creatures too. Clean - 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year (Sifferlin). Do some beach cleanup with a few friends! This keeps marine life from ingesting anything harmful which can lead to illness. You can also consider ditching plastic and paper bags and instead bring your own bags from home when shopping. Plastic bags decompose in 20 years and plastic bottles take up to 450 years (Cho). Cutting as much plastic from your life makes a big impact on the oceans. Participate in World Oceans Month! – June is dedicated to our oceans. During this month, it is important to spread awareness of our oceans and conservation efforts. Post on your social media, talk about how much you love our ocean and follow groups who promote ocean care. After June comes Save the Vaquita Day on July 8th. A day when we can spread awareness of this creature as well as others.” ~SandCloud
“The vaquita (Phocoena sinus), literally "little cow", is a species of porpoise endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez, Vermilion Sea). Averaging 150 cm (for females) or 140 cm (for males) in length, it is the smallest of all living cetaceans. Today, the species is on the brink of extinction. Recent research estimates the population at fewer than 19 individuals. The steep decline in abundance is primarily due to bycatch in gillnets from the illegal totoaba fishery” ~Wikipedia Music: Wii Sports Theme
