News > Mexico’s new fishing rule a ‘setback’ for near-extinct porpoise, say conservationists

Mexico’s new fishing rule a ‘setback’ for near-extinct porpoise, say conservationists

The Mexican government’s decision to loosen its policy of keeping a fishing free zone around a protected area in the Gulf of California region was a “setback” to keeping alive a near-extinct porpoise species, a conservation group said on Thursday.

There are thought to be only between six and 20 vaquita porpoises left and the species is on the brink of extinction as more die each year in fishing nets than are being born, biologists say.