In the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico’s native vaquita marina, the dolphin’s smallest cousin whose name literally means “little sea cow,” is in dire straits. One of the biggest threats the vaquita faces is getting caught in fishing nets, often intended for catching shrimp and other fish. Now, with fewer than 100 left on the planet, the vaquita is struggling to survive.

For years, the challenge to save these creatures seemed insurmountable: How could Mexico protect the vaquita without hurting the communities that depend on fishing to support their economies? Today, those fishermen are leading the charge to find ways to keep their economies and the endangered porpoise alive and thriving.

Banding together under the name San Felipe Pescados y Mariscos, fishermen from the San Felipe community are gathering support from top Mexican chefs and environmental organizations including World Wildlife Fund and Pronatura Noroeste and promoting “vaquita-friendly” labeling for fish caught using practices and gear that are safe for the animal. “We're trying to promote consumption of vaquita-friendly products with chefs and high-cuisine restaurants in order to generate a market consistent with efforts to save the vaquita from extinction,” said Ramses Rodríguez, project coordinator for Pronatura Noroeste.

Fishermen also brought their expertise to devise a plan with the Mexican government to protect the vaquita and the livelihoods of the local fishing villages. In April 2015, in a big step forward, the Mexican government passed a two-year ban on deadly fishing nets called gillnets. With financial support and investments in vaquita-friendly fishing gear from the government, fishing communities in the Upper Gulf are embracing – and championing – new approaches that sustain their way of life and protect the vaquita’s future.

Similar to Walton Family Foundation’s grantees’ work for the nearby curvina golfina fishery, this collaboration illustrates how by joining together, environmental groups, local government and communities can find common-sense solutions to difficult challenges.