May 27, 2023

Thank you to Secretary of the Interior. Thank you to all the people who messaged the Department of the Interior.

Thank you, Secretary Deb Haaland, for revealing the ineffectiveness of the government of Mexico’s incompetent efforts to protect the endangered Vaquita.

Despite SSCS’s defense of Mexico, the U.S. government understands the seriousness of the threat to the survival of the endangered Vaquita.

The one language that all governments understand is money.

Mexican fish products need to be embargoed and a strong message must be sent to the government of Mexico that the USA is not buying any more of their bullshit by not buying any of their fish products.

This is good news for the Vaquita and the endangered Totoaba fish.

There are only two things that will prevent the extinction of the Vaquita. (1) Confiscation of each and every net set in the Vaquita Reserve, and 100% enforcement of the prohibition on fishing in the Reserve and/or (2) an embargo on Mexican seafood into the United States.

Mexico has prohibited the confiscation of the nets and SSCS refused to challenge this decision and instead is simply monitoring the fishermen and reporting to the Navy that either takes their time getting to the Vaquita Reserve or does not arrive at all. 

CONFISCATE OR LEAVE

I said in 2020 that if SSCS is not allowed to confiscate nets then SSCS should have left Mexican waters. By staying, SSCS has allowed the Mexican government to carry on a charade of protecting the Vaquita by making it appear that they are taking the situation seriously by having SSCS vessels in the area.

In other words, SSCS is there to make the Mexican government look good.

Without net confiscation or U.S. government sanctions the Vaquita is doomed.

Thank you, Deb Haaland, for doing what needs to be done.