Environmental groups sue to challenge Mexico vaquita protections
Environmental groups sue Mexico over rule change that shrinks vaquita porpoise protected zone
One of about 10 living vaquitas, a critically endangered porpoise species endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California. (NOAA via Courthouse News) (Photo via Courthouse News)
A coalition of environmental organizations filed an amparo lawsuit on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, challenging a recent amendment by the Mexican government that significantly reduced the protected habitat for the critically endangered vaquita porpoise.
The legal challenge contests a government directive issued on Oct. 14, 2026, which went into effect the following day. The amendment reduced the prohibited gillnet fishing area by approximately 86% compared to regulations established in September 2020, effectively removing the ban from thousands of square miles of the porpoise's habitat.
The plaintiffs, including the Center for Biological Diversity, the Conservation of Marine Mammals of Mexico, and Greenpeace Mexico, are asking the court to suspend the new regulations while the case is heard. The organizations argue that the government failed to provide the public with a meaningful opportunity to review the boundary changes before they were implemented.
Alex Olivera, the Mexico representative at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the decision could have catastrophic consequences for the species. With current population estimates ranging from five to 13 individuals, Olivera noted that the porpoises frequently travel outside of the zero-tolerance areas and require protection across their entire habitat.
Lawyer and activist Ilse Vázquez Maldonado added that the reform weakens existing protections by allowing gillnet use in areas previously designated as off-limits. In an apparent response to the lawsuit, the Mexican government has stated it intends to protect the vaquita through increased surveillance and fisheries management.