JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY 2010 Volume 39, Number 1 Whalewatcher Porpoises in Peril The Vaquita and its Relatives Vaquita - The little ”desert porpoise,” sometimes called the “Panda of the Sea” Photo © Thomas Jefferson Special Guest Editor Thomas A. Jefferson National Board of Scientific Directors & Advisory Representatives Panel Kathy Zagzebski John Calambokidis - Cascadia Research President John Ford, Ph.D. - Pacific Biological Station Mason Weinrich Fisheries and Oceans Canada Vice President Denise Herzing, Ph.D. - Wild Dolphin Project Cindy Rustanius Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D. - Southwest Fisheries Science Center Treasurer National Marine Fisheries Service Patty Geary Robert Kenney, Ph.D. - University of Rhode Island Secretary Graduate School of Oceanography Jonathan Stern Kit M. Kovacs, Ph.D. - Norwegian Polar Institute Conservation Chair Bruce Mate, Ph.D. - Oregon State University Marine Mammal Program, Hatfield Marine Science Center Katherine Sardi Research Chair Howard Rosenbaum, Ph.D. - Wildlife Conservation Society Bernardo Alps Steven Swartz, Ph.D. - NOAA Fisheries Member at Large, Trips Chair & Office of Science and Technology L. A. Chapter President Sean Todd, Ph.D. - College of the Atlantic, Allied Whale Wellington Rogers Randall Wells, Ph.D. - Chicago Zoological Society Orange County Chapter Delegate & Hal Whitehead, Ph.D. - Dept. of Biology President Dalhousie University Uko Gorter Bernd Wursig, Ph.D. - Dept. of Marine Biology Puget Sound Chapter Delegate & Texas A&M University of Galveston President Diane Glim ACS has active chapters in: Monterey Bay Chapter Delegate & • Los Angeles, California President • Orange County, California • San Diego, California Mary Kay Pedersen Los Angeles Chapter Delegate • Monterey Bay, California • Puget Sound, Washington Diane Allen You can learn more about these chapters at Member at Large, Webmaster www.acsonline.org under “About ACS.” Barbara Bennett Member at Large Jerry Loomis Member at Large American Cetacean Society National Office P.O. Box 1391, San Pedro, CA. 90733-1391 Kaye Reznick (310) 548-6279 Business Manager www.acsonline.org Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D. Executive Director Guest Editor, Dr. Thomas A. Jefferson Photo © C. Johnson/EarthOcean Dear ACS Member, Cheryl McCormick Executive Director, American Cetacean Society ...Contents A Focus on the Porpoises - They’re Elusive and Endangered - by Thomas Jefferson..............................................................2 Why We NEED to Save the Vaquita – by Thomas A Jefferson................................................................................................4 Helping the Vaquita to Recover - Conservation and Management Actions by Mexico – by L. Rojas-Bracho and L. Fueyo....................................................7 Vaquitas on the Brink - Can We Save Mexico’s Imperiled Porpoise? - by A. Jaramillo-Legoretta and B. L. Taylor................................................................................................................................11 Surviving the Nets - Current Status of Harbor Porpoise Populations - by A. J. Read........................................................14 Meet the Family – Illustrations of Porpoises - by Uko Gorter..................................................................................................16 Dall’s Porpoise – Accidental and Intentional Victims – by M. Amano...................................................................................20 The Phocoenid Gallery – Celebrating the Diversity of Porpoises...........................................................................................23 Finless Porpoises - The Forgotten Ones – by J. Y. Wang..........................................................................................................26 Recent Literature on Porpoises...................................................................................................................................................31 Whalewatcher Vol. 39 #1 Editor - Thomas Jefferson, Ph.D., Co-editors - Mason Weinrich, Uko Gorter, Kaye Reznick Porpoises In Peril Issue: Editor’s Introduction Porpoises In Peril Issue: Editor’s Introduction A Focus on the Porpoises They’re Elusive and Endangered by Thomas Jefferson The six species of porpoises (comprising the cetacean family Phocoenidae) are often overshadowed by their larger relatives, the marine dolphins (family Delphinidae). Dolphins occur everywhere in marine waters of the world, most species ride bow waves, and have showy behavior – often performing spectacular leaps. This group includes such well- known animals as the killer whale, dusky dolphin, spinner dolphin, and the ubiquitous bottlenose dolphin. Dolphin-watching tours in many parts of the world attract numerous tourists, and some people travel the world specifically to see them. Dr. Jefferson documents rare sightings of the small porpoise so close to extinction in the northern Gulf of California. Less than 150 vaquitas are thought to be remaining. The porpoises, on the other hand, Taking the editorial helm of this Whalewatcher issue to gather current science, rare tend to remain in the shadows. They photos, and educational illustrations and bring them to you is just one of the many are universally small (less than 2.5 m efforts Tom is coordinating to increase awareness and initiate action. long), they don’t often leap out of the Photo © Thomas Jefferson water, most species don’t bow ride, and they are generally cryptic and hard to porpoises are known) only occur in corner of the world to catch a variety observe. Few, if any, cetacean-watching specific parts of the world, and are of fish and shrimp species – gillnets cruises target them. Phocoenids (as absent throughout most of the tropics. (driftnets and trammel nets are types of gillnets). Gillnet fisheries threaten Until recently, most porpoise species many populations of harbor porpoises, Gillnet fisheries threaten were very poorly-known and there and one species – the vaquita – is in were not even decent photos of most serious danger of extinction in the many populations of harbor species alive in the wild. This is next year or two, due to entanglement porpoises, and one beginning to change, and we now have in gillnets in the northern Gulf of species – the vaquita – is in good photos of all species in their California. natural habitat. We are finally learning serious danger of extinction something of the other species besides The articles in this special issue in the next year or two, due just the well-studied harbor porpoise. cover four of the six species of to entanglement in gillnets porpoises in detail. The spectacled Unfortunately, what we are learning and Burmeister’s porpoises are not in the northern Gulf of is not very positive. It seems that all represented by dedicated articles, not California. porpoise species have problems with because of a bias against Southern fishing nets, in particular the passive Hemisphere species, but because not fishing nets used in almost every much is known about them, and there 2 Whalewatcher Whalewatcher 3 Porpoises In Peril Issue: Editor’s Introduction Porpoises In Peril Issue: Editor’s Introduction is not much to say. They are, however, websites, www.vivavaquita.org and I would like to take this opportunity fully represented in the photo www.vaquita.tv, provide details on to thank the many people and montage, illustration ‘centerfold’, and these initiatives. organizations that helped make this also in text boxes. I sincerely hope issue possible. First and foremost, that, as our knowledge improves, we But the vaquita is not alone in facing the American Cetacean Society are able to cover them in detail in a threats from human activities. All six was enthusiastically receptive to future such publication. species of porpoises have problems the idea of dedicating an issue of with gillnets, and there is even a direct the Whalewatcher to the neglected You may notice that there is a very hunt for Dall’s porpoise in Japan. porpoises. I would also like to strong emphasis on the vaquita in this Several populations of harbor, Dall’s, thank the private foundation (which special issue, with three of six articles finless, and Burmeister’s porpoises are prefers to remain anonymous) that devoted to this species, and I offer also facing local extinction. This issue has funded our education work and no apology for this bias. The vaquita contains a full-color photo gallery which funded the color printing is Critically Endangered, with only showing some of the first-ever high- of this issue. ACS Monterey Bay an estimated 125-150 remaining. It quality photos of these species alive in and Save the Whales have been is the smallest of the true porpoises, the wild, and Uko Gorter has prepared active partners in our efforts to help and is the only one that lives in warm a set of illustrations showing the the vaquita, and Tom Kieckhefer waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. It variation and beauty of these amazing deserves special mention here. Mason is found in a tiny area in the extreme creatures that most people never see! Weinrich, Cheryl McCormick, and northern Gulf of California, in Baja Kaye Reznick helped pave the way California, Mexico, just a few short It is my desire that this special issue for this issue to move forward. And of hours drive south of the US/Mexico will raise awareness of porpoises course, I also thank all the authors and border. in general, and of the vaquita in photographers whose work appears particular. I hope that it may