Class 4A at the elementary school in Ober St. Veit near Vienna carried out a fantastic fundraising campaign over several weeks, collecting donations for the endangered vaquita and the YAQU PACHA rescue project. They raised an impressive total of €1,071. We would like to take this opportunity to thank class 4A for their wonderful support. The donation will be used specifically for the rescue and conservation of the vaquita in the Gulf of California in Mexico.
YAQU PACHA is working with Pesca ABC to establish alternative fishing methods that prevent vaquitas from ending up in nets. These alternative techniques are based on fishing with lines and hooks and provide fishermen with particularly good, high-quality fish. The method has been very well received and is gradually becoming established in the northern part of the Gulf of California, where the vaquita lives.
In addition, the Mexican government has sunk concrete blocks with steel hooks in the vaquita's habitat. This deters illegal fishermen from fishing in this area, as they would otherwise destroy their nets.
These two methods are intended to stabilize the vaquita population. We hope that we will see young animals again in the next population count. That would be a sign that the population is recovering. We currently estimate the total population to be 8–10 vaquitas.
Once again, a big thank you to class 4A and everyone who helped to raise this fantastic amount.
100% of the donations will go towards saving the vaquita and our species conservation project in collaboration with Pesca ABC.
