Vaquita stands as one of the rarest marine mammals on Earth, with fewer than 20 left in the wild. In this episode, we explore what the near-extinction of the vaquita teaches us about the future of sharks and why their survival is critical to the health of the ocean.

Sharks play an essential role in keeping marine ecosystems balanced, yet they face many of the same threats that doomed the vaquita: bycatch, overfishing, and weak enforcement. This episode dives into the parallels, the urgency of acting before it is too late, and how the loss of sharks would ripple into every part of our lives, from food security to coastal protection.

Melissa Marquez's article in Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2025/09/30/what-the-vaquitas-fate-warns-about-sharks/

Chapters:
00:00 – Hook: The vaquita’s tragic fate and what it signals
02:15 – How the vaquita was pushed to the edge of extinction
04:10 – The link between vaquitas and shark declines
06:05 – Why waiting to act is often too late for species
08:20 – Sharks’ vital role in ocean ecosystems
10:45 – What the vaquita’s story means for all of us
12:30 – Personal reflection and call to protect sharks now

#oceanconservation #MarineBiology #SaveOurOceans #ProtectTheOcean #OceanAwareness #BluePlanet #ConservationMatters #ScienceForChange #SustainableOceans
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