Mexico may reduce protection area for endangered porpoise

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico is considering reducing the protection area for the vaquita marina in the upper Gulf of California. That would cut the area where gill nets have been banned to protect the world’s most endangered marine mammal and smallest porpoise. As few as 10 vaquita may remain in the Gulf, also known as the Sea of Cortez, the only place in the world that the elusive porpoise lives. Mexico’s Environment Department said Saturday that the drop in the number of vaquitas and the area where they have been seen in recent years justifies reducing the protection zone, which currently covers most of the upper Gulf.