The Mexican navy is dropping concrete blocks affixed with hooks onto the bottom of the Gulf of California, trying to snag illegal nets that drown a critically endangered porpoise. Environmentalists aren't sold on the tactic.
As few as eight of the tiny, elusive porpoises remain in the Gulf, also known as the Sea of Cortez. It is the only place they live, and they cannot be captured and bred in captivity.
Environmentalists said Tuesday the plan to sink 193 concrete blocks was approved with no public comment and expressed concerns that the metal hooks attached to the blocks may accumulate remnants of nets that could continue to entangle and drown sea life.“This is a total surprise, because the environmental impact statement was approved in record time, in six weeks. It wasn’t opened to public comment,” said Alex Olivera, the Mexico representative for the Center for Biological Diversity.
“A net can be snagged on these hooks, and we don’t know, we’re talking about nets that are hundreds of yards long, so we don’t know if a net snagged down there might be a double-edged sword, and trap vaquitas,” said Olivera.Another expert, who did not want to be cited by name out of concern over reprisals, said the plan might discourage the illegal fishermen by causing them to lose nets to the snags.
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