New Book Examines Science, Politics And Crime At The Center Of The Vaquita Crisis

Despite ongoing conservation efforts, the vaquita porpoise in the upper Gulf of California remains the world’s most endangered marine mammal.

Known as the “panda of the sea,” the vaquita often gets trapped in illegal fishnets used by poachers who are after an endangered fish.

But the plight of the vaquita is not just an environmental story. A new book delves into the complex web that has contributed to the decline of the porpoise.

Wildlife researcher and author Brooke Bessesen talks about her book, "Vaquita: Science, Politics and Crime in the Sea of Cortez", Thursday on Midday Edition.

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