Perreault Magazine - 65 -
They told her that the Vaquita was extinct and she would be wasting her time. There was no danger of killing Vaquitas in their nets, they said, because no Vaquitas were left to catch.
It was true, she did not have the authority, but it was not true that the Vaquita was gone.
A month later on April 16th, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto arrived in nearby San Felipe to announce 2-year Gillnet Exclusion Zone. He ordered Naval patrols of the Vaquita Reserve.
Two days later, on April 18th, Sea Shepherd filmed a live Vaquita, the first confirmed sighting of the dolphin since 2013.
The Mexican government was thrilled to see the video and after meetings with the Environment Ministry, Captain Layolle and the government of Mexico signed an agreement to work cooperatively to protect the Vaquita.
The fishing season ended in May and Sea Shepherd began to make preparations to return in December 2015, this time with two vessels. Joining the Martin Sheen would be the Farley Mowat, a recently converted U.S. Coast Guard Island Class 110’ fast patrol boat.
On Christmas Day the crew of the Martin Sheen were sad and angered to discover a dead Humpback whale entangled in a poacher’s net.
©Carolina A Castro: Captain Oona Layolle