Wednesday 21 January 2015

Mexico to employ drones in tracking endangered porpoise species

Fewer than 100 of the elusive vaquita marina remain and the drones will be used to police gillnet fishers who can trap the porpoise in their nets

Associated Press in Mexico City

theguardian.com, Tuesday 20 January 2015 16.16 GMT

Mexico has begun testing unmanned drones that could help it save the critically endangered vaquita marina, the world’s smallest porpoise, which is threatened by illegal fishing in the upper Sea of Cortez.

Alejandro del Mazo, an assistant prosecutor with Mexico’s environmental protection agency, said on Monday he hopes to have three drones patrolling the vaquita’s habitat in coming months. The sea, also known as the Gulf of California, is the only place vaquitas are found.

“We are considering the use of advanced technology, because drones would allow us to have permanent aerial patrols in the area and be able to react much more efficiently and quickly,” Del Mazo said.



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