vaquita

Activists blame Mexican government for near-loss of porpoise

Conservation groups said Monday that the Mexican government’s lack of action is to blame for the near-extinction of the critically endangered vaquita marina porpoise.

The groups said the National Fisheries Commission didn’t supervise fishing season rules and improperly increased catch quotas in the upper Gulf of California. They said the commission also failed to give fishermen better nets to avoid trapping vaquitas.

Asked about the report, the fisheries council had no immediate comment.

The vaquita is the world’s smallest porpoise and is found only in the gulf, which is also known as the Sea of Cortez . . .