U.S. Customs and Border Patrol recently nabbed their second-largest seizure of 91 swim bladders from the endangered totoaba fish. Coveted on the black market, the bladders — worth about $1 million — were in a commercial shipment of fish fillets.
The totoaba fish is subject to a CITES commercial trade ban because fishing for them harms the critically endangered #vaquita porpoise.
Vaquitas are about the size of small humans, topping out at about 5 feet long and 120 pounds. Their numbers have plummeted to just 10 individuals — making vaquitas both the smallest most endangered porpoise on Earth.
You can help: Demand better law enforcement to help save vaquitas at the link in our bio.
📹 courtesy Dan Soibelman/Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
#marineconservation#porpoise