Banana Republic of Mexico and Sea Shepherds Round Up Fishermen to “save” the critically endangered Vaquita

Crew from six fishing boats in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez were arrested by the Mexican Navy, after they were caught using illegal fishing nets to poach banned fish in a marine reserve. The fishermen had been spotted by the Sea Shepherd vessel scow Farley Mowat, which tracked the six boats until navy officials could arrive on the scene. According to Sea Shepherd, a nonprofit marine wildlife organization, the fishermen were using banned gill nets to catch totoaba bass, a rare fish Mexican law has protected since 1975 but one that is nonetheless poached for its swim bladders, which, at an estimated US$20,000 per kilo, fetch a high price on China’s black market. The fishing boats were stopped and their crews apprehended without incident. Read the story here 12:25

One Response to Banana Republic of Mexico and Sea Shepherds Round Up Fishermen to “save” the critically endangered Vaquita

  1. Rob McIntyre says:

    I doubt this “partnership” is actually official. They spotted poachers, called it in and the Navy took advantage of the information. They certainly didn’t have any authority to detain anyone.

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