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México reduce en un 86 % la zona de protección de la vaquita marina y aumenta el riesgo de extinción

El cambio en las normas pesqueras permite el uso de redes de enmalle en aguas antes restringidas.

México ha reducido en un 86 % el área protegida destinada a salvaguardar a la vaquita marina (Phocoena sinus), una decisión que modifica las medidas de conservación de uno de los mamíferos marinos más amenazados del mundo. Con las nuevas disposiciones, la zona donde está prohibido utilizar redes de enmalle pasa de aproximadamente 11.106 kilómetros cuadrados a 1.562 kilómetros cuadrados, lo que permite pescar con estas redes en aguas que antes estaban restringidas.

La vaquita marina es una marsopa pequeña que habita exclusivamente en el norte del golfo de California. Su distribución geográfica extremadamente limitada hace que cualquier cambio en las normas pesqueras tenga consecuencias importantes: la especie no puede trasladarse simplemente a otro hábitat oceánico si las condiciones empeoran.

Una población mínima bajo amenaza constante

Las vaquitas quedan atrapadas accidentalmente en redes de enmalle, que forman barreras verticales utilizadas para capturar peces y camarones. Al no poder salir a la superficie para respirar, los animales enredados pueden morir por ahogamiento. La población de esta especie ha disminuido drásticamente desde los aproximadamente 600 ejemplares estimados en 1997. Los cálculos recientes sugieren que podrían quedar alrededor de 10 individuos, aunque es difícil establecer una cifra precisa porque estos animales son esquivos y ocupan un área reducida.

La pesca ilegal de totoaba, un pez cuya vejiga natatoria alcanza precios elevados en el mercado negro, agrava el problema. Las vaquitas quedan atrapadas en redes instaladas para capturar esta especie, por lo que combatir la pesca ilegal y limitar el uso de redes de enmalle resulta fundamental para su supervivencia.

Nuevas reglas para la pesca y la conservación

El Gobierno mexicano ha defendido las restricciones modificadas como un intento de equilibrar la protección de la especie con los medios de subsistencia de las comunidades pesqueras. El acuerdo también establece un corredor de tránsito a través de la Zona de Tolerancia Cero y modifica algunas restricciones a la pesca, aunque mantiene requisitos de monitoreo para las embarcaciones.

Las organizaciones conservacionistas advierten que permitir nuevamente el uso de redes de enmalle en aguas antes restringidas aumenta el riesgo de que mueran más vaquitas por captura accidental. El Center for Biological Diversity ha criticado la reducción de las protecciones y sostiene que debilitar las medidas existentes podría acercar aún más a la especie a la extinción.

El desafío no consiste únicamente en delimitar una zona protegida más grande o más pequeña. La conservación efectiva requiere evitar que los animales queden atrapados en las redes, vigilar la actividad pesquera y garantizar que las restricciones se cumplan en el mar.

Qué puede ocurrir a continuación

Las autoridades mexicanas han anunciado que prevén desarrollar en 2027 una nueva campaña de monitoreo acústico y visual, con la participación de organismos gubernamentales, organizaciones conservacionistas y comunidades locales. Su eficacia dependerá de que la vigilancia permita intervenir a tiempo y de que se impidan realmente las prácticas pesqueras que ponen en peligro a las vaquitas.

Con tan pocos ejemplares supervivientes, las consecuencias de modificar las normas de protección son especialmente graves. El futuro de la vaquita marina dependerá de la capacidad de México para protegerla y aplicar reglas pesqueras efectivas que mantengan las redes mortales fuera de su hábitat.

By Heydi Bernal for Ruta Pantera on 10/17/2026 8:50:04 AM


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References:
WIRED. (2026, 16 de octubre). La vaquita marina pierde 86% de su área protegida en México. https://es.wired.com/articulos/la-vaquita-marina-pierde-86-por-ciento-de-su-area-protegida-en-mexico
Center for Biological Diversity. (2026, 15 de octubre). Mexico eviscerates vaquita protections. https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/mexico-eviscerates-vaquita-protections-2026-10-15/



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