In Defense of Animals has joined the campaign to save the remaining vaquita porpoise from extinction by endorsing the campaign to boycott Mexican Shrimp. As sad and shocking as it may seem, there are only around 30 vaquita left in the oceans today. They have suffered greatly at the hands of the Mexican shrimp industry, which uses gillnets extensively. These harmful nets catch many more animals than the shrimp they are intended for – and many vaquita have become entangled over the years.

According to the campaign website, “From 1990 to 2010, the Mexican shrimp industry was primarily responsible for the loss of over 70 percent of the vaquita population, as the number of vaquita dropped from 700 individuals to just 200."  Since these small porpoises only live in one place on earth – the Gulf of Mexico – it is Mexico’s responsibility to stop fishing in such irresponsible and deadly ways. If nothing is done, it is anticipated that all vaquita could be killed by the year 2019.

The campaign calls for US consumers to boycott all Mexican shrimp, in an effort to compel the Mexican fishery agency to fulfill its stated promises to save the vaquita. Better yet – try going vegan, because fish species are being caught  and killed unsustainably. Plus, new science continually emerges that demonstrates that fish can be depressed, and that they have long memories. Even crustaceans, like lobster and shrimp, do in fact feel pain, so please leave them off your plate.  

Hopefully enough action can be taken to save these last adorable little porpoises, and also the not as cute, but still sentient little shrimp as well.