San Felipe, Baja California, MEXICO – March 21, 2017 – Sea Shepherd found the body of a dead vaquita porpoise floating in the Gulf of California on Sunday March 19, 2017.
The non-profit marine conservation society has been in the upper Gulf since last fall as part of Operation Milagro III to save the vaquita and the endangered totoaba bass. Sea Shepherd’s anti-poaching ships, the M/V Farley Mowat and M/Y Sam Simon are currently patrolling the area.
At 2:47pm on Sunday, the Farley Mowat crew came across the dead vaquita – known as the world’s smallest porpoise – and notified the Mexican authorities to retrieve it. The carcass is currently being held in San Felipe, frozen, awaiting an examination to determine its cause of death.
With the near-extinct vaquita porpoise now numbering less than 30, the devastating sight comes exactly one week after Sea Shepherd found a dead newborn vaquita on the beach just 33 km south of San Felipe.
“Witnessing one of the few remaining vaquita in the entire world dead and floating in front of our ship was devastating to my crew,” said Farley Mowat Captain Luisa Albera. “We are continuing to stay focused on retrieving all nets that are trapping the vaquita to death.”
Over the weekend, the Farley Mowat and Sam Simon recovered 11 illegal totoaba nets. These nets are the most common cause of death for the vaquita as it entangles the porpoise, causing it to drown.
These nets are set up by illegal fisherman to trap the totoaba and export its swim bladder for sale on the black market in China and Hong Kong. There it is prized for unsubstantiated medicinal properties and can fetch more than $20,000 per kilo. Due to this high street value, the totoaba bladder is frequently referred to as “aquatic cocaine” and is the only reason this fish is being killed.
“The illegal trafficking of totoaba swim bladders in the Gulf of California is at an all-time high. If things continue at this rate, there is little hope for the vaquita’s survival,” said Operation Milagro III Campaign Leader and Sam Simon Captain Oona Layolle. “It is depressing to witness the extinction of a species due to human greed. Despite the devastating deaths seen in the past week, Sea Shepherd’s relentless work in the Gulf continues to save many marine animals’ lives and we will continue to defend, conserve and protect the marine life here including the vaquita.”
All of us at Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are deeply saddened by the loss of the amazing human being, Sam Simon. A true friend of Sea Shepherd and a hero for animals everywhere, as well as an award-winning television executive and co-creator of The Simpsons, Sam passed away last night at the age of 59 following his brave battle with cancer.
Sam Simon was a devoted animal activist and noted philanthropist, generously giving to the causes closest to his heart, including Sea Shepherd’s mission to defend ocean wildlife worldwide. In 2012, Sam donated to Sea Shepherd the funds to purchase a ship, which was proudly named in his honor. The M/V Sam Simon has been engaged in several Sea Shepherd Australia campaigns and is currently protecting Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish from poachers as part of Sea Shepherd’s Operation Icefish.
Not only has Sam Simon, the ship, joined Sea Shepherd campaigns on the frontlines, but Sam Simon, the man, has as well. In 2014, Sam made the long trip to Taiji, Japan to join Sea Shepherd USA’s Cove Guardians on the ground and document firsthand the atrocities that go on in Taiji’s infamous cove. He stood with Sea Shepherd Senior Cove Guardian Campaign Leader Melissa Sehgal and her team of volunteer Cove Guardians as the hunt season ended and the tarps that hide the brutal actions of the dolphin killers were taken down.
Sam also showed his support for Sea Shepherd by hosting a comedy fundraiser, “Stand Up for the Oceans,” for us in 2011, and spoke at several events, shining a bright spotlight on the issues facing the marine animals about which he cared so deeply. Most recently, he marched with more than 200 people in Los Angeles in February as part of Sea Shepherd’s “World Love for Dolphins Day” rallies against the Taiji dolphin slaughter.
“This is truly a devastating loss, for me and for Sea Shepherd and for the thousands of people and animals whose lives have been touched by Sam Simon. He will be remembered as a great friend and as an unwavering defender of animals,” said Sea Shepherd Founder, Captain Paul Watson.
Along with his uncompromising support of Sea Shepherd, Sam Simon was a generous supporter of several animal rights organizations and causes, and has generously given millions of dollars to free abused animals to sanctuaries. His charitable non-profit, the Sam Simon Foundation, works to both rescue dogs from shelters and train them to become assistance animals for people in need. An award-winning producer, writer and director, Sam Simon was known for his work on such hit TV shows as The Tracey Ullman Show, Taxi, Cheers, and The Drew Carey Show. He was the recipient of nine Emmy Awards and a Peabody award.