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Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra Tammy’s views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his pastor, Tammy’s neighbors, Wayne Mayo, Brian Stout, Former President Trump, Henry Heimuller, Joe Biden, Jerry Falwell Jr., Mike Johnson, Ted Cruz, Joe Biden’s dogs, or Claudia Eagle’s Cats. This Tammy’s Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or even reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she refuses to be bullied by anyone. See Bill’s Standard Disclaimer
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The Vaquita , is a dolphin going into extinction because of illegal activities. Endangered Sea Animals
While the USA and Mexico are negotiating the border issue, the Sea Shepard Conversation Society has formed an alliance with the Mexican government to protect the Totoaba. The Totoaba is a large, slow-growing fish found exclusively in the Sea of Cortez. Capable of reaching over six feet in length and weighing up to 220 pounds, these fish were once abundant in the region, serving as a staple for local communities and a thriving commercial fishery in the mid-20th century. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have led to a dramatic decline in totoaba populations, pushing them to the brink of extinction. The fates of the totoaba and the critically endangered vaquita are inextricably linked. At the heart of this tragic connection lies a dark trade fueled by insatiable demand for totoaba swim bladders, an ancient remedy prized in Chinese medicine, and the indiscriminate fishing methods haven proven deadly for the elusive vaquita. Vaquita are dolphins , estimated that a mere 6 to 22 individuals remained. More recent estimates suggest that this number has dropped even further, with no more than 10 vaquitas left in the wild today. Despite the vaquita’s dire situation, a glimmer of hope remains. In recent surveys, scientists observed several vaquitas, including mother-calf pairs, which indicates that the species continues to reproduce. It is the totoaba’s swim bladder, an organ that helps the fish control its buoyancy, that has become the epicenter of a black-market boom. In traditional Chinese medicine, these swim bladders, known as “fish maws,” are believed to have numerous health benefits, including promoting longevity and vitality. This demand has driven up the price of totoaba swim bladders to astonishing levels, earning them the nickname “cocaine of the sea. The intertwined fates of the vaquita and the totoaba have given rise to the term “dual extinction,” highlighting the fact that both species are teetering on the edge of oblivion. With the vaquita’s population plummeting to fewer than 20 individuals and the totoaba’s numbers in a grave state, urgent action is needed to stop both species from disappearing forever. The illegal fishing methods used to catch totoaba, particularly gillnets, have proven disastrous for the vaquita population. Gillnets, designed to catch fish by their gills, are indiscriminate, often trapping and killing vaquitas as bycatch. As a result, the vaquita, already struggling with declining numbers, has become collateral damage in the race to supply the lucrative totoaba trade. October 3, 2023 in Mexico City The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Mexican government signed a historic endangered species conservation agreement expanding the area of Operation Milagro’s protection of the Vaquita by more than 60%. Operation Milagro protects the Zero Tolerance Area of the UNESCO-recognized Vaquita Refuge from the illegal fishing gear that ensnares and kills the endangered Vaquita. It also expands Operation Milagro’s protection protocols to include the endangered Totoaba across the entire Vaquita Refuge. The agreement, signed by Secretary Admiral Ojeda of the Mexican Navy and Sea Shepherd CEO Pritam Singh, was witnessed by Mexican Ambassador to the United States Esteban Moctezuma. The expanded partnership extends protection to the west and northwest of the current Zero Tolerance Area to include the areas where the May 2023 Vaquita Survey identified a significant number of Vaquita sightings. The agreement also expands Operation Milagro to provide expanded protection for the endangered Totoaba. Maybe with common sense and diligence we can save these shy and gentle creatures from human activities and stupidity. Its time for China to come into the 21st century and leave their silly beliefs in the past.
Tammy
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