1958 Vaquita discovered in Gulf of California

1972 US protects Vaquita under the Marine Mamal Protection Act

1975 Mexico lists Vaquita as endangered and bans commercial fishing for totoaba which is , also, listed as endangered

1976 US lists totoaba as endangered

1977 US bans imported totoaba

1985 Listed on Federal Endangered Species Act

1992 Mexico bans use of large mesh gillnets

1993 Mexico establishes the Upper Gulf of California and the Colorado River Biospere Reserve

1996 Vaquita listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and International Committee for Recovery of the Vaquita (CIRVA) established

1997 Estimated population size is 567 individuals

2005 Mexico establishes the Vaquita Refuge

2007 Conservation Program for Endangered Species (PROCER) and Conservation Action Programs (PACE) established

2008 Vaquita population surveyed again, listing of critically endangered continues because of gill net mortality and inability to recover in three generations. Estimated population size is 245

2010 Totoaba listed as critically endangered on IUCN Red List

2011 Scientists begin intensive acoustic monitoring program in Vaquita Refuge

2013 Illegal fishermen in Gulf of California claim Vaquita is already extinct

2014 The Center for Biological Diversity petitions US for sanctions against Mexico regarding illegal fishing (Pelly Amendment)

2015 Sea Shepherd document sighting of Vaquita alive and well in Gulf of California. Mexico's President Pena Nieto establishes two year ban on gill nets in Vaquita Refuge. Mexican Navy and Sea Shepherd team up to patrol the waters of the Gulf of California. The Center for Biological Diversity petitions United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to place Gulf of California on World Heritage "in danger" list. Estimated population size is 60

2016 US President Obama and Mexico President Nieto announce bilateral collaboration measures to protect the Vaquita. As a result, an international committee of experts develop and implement Vaquita-safe fishing techniques. Estimated population size is 30

2017 Gillnet ban made permanent which establishes Zero Tolerance Area. VaquitaCPR(conservation, protection, recovery) initiated and discontinued. UNESCO World Heritage Committee gives Mexico a year to improve protections for Vaquita. The Center of Biological Diversity petitions US National Marine Fisheries Service to ban imports of Mexico's Gulf of California seafood caught in gillnets. Leonardo DiCaprio turns to social media and pleads followers to sign petition asking President Nieto to do more to protect the Vaquita

2018 CIRVA completes a photo-ID expedition which identifies healthy mother-calf pairs. Population estimated at 30 individuals

2019 61 moorings and acoustic detectors lost due to illegal fishing activity. UNESCO adds Gulf of California to List of World Heritage in Danger

2020 COVID Pandemic occurs. Mexico enlarges protected Zero Tolerance Area in Upper Gulf of California. Sole ranger, Paco Valverde, of Vaquita Refuge dies of COVID-19. Acoustic encounters establish population at 9 individuals. The Center for Biological Diversity files lawsuit for US to force trade sanctions against Mexico regarding illegal fishing. US, Mexico, and Canada initiate USMCA - a trade agreement which replaces NAFTA.

2021 Mexico eases restrictions in Zero Tolerance Area which allows fishing in the area again. Operation Milagro partners Sea Shepherd and Mexico again

2022 Sea Shepherd has 8 Vaquita sightings during 5 days expedition totaling 7-8 adults and 1-2 calves. US government invokes USMCA's environmental consultation provision. Convention on Internation Trade in Endangred Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) approves Earth Ocean Farms (EOF) to begin trad of captive-bred totoaba fish.

Per Mexican governments request, an international team of experts attempt to save the endangered Vaquita. The plan is to locate, rescue, and temporarily relocate to an ocean sanctuary off the coast of San Felipe - see photo to the left. Ultimate goal is to protect and return to natural habitat once primary survival threat (gillnet fishing) is eliminated. Rescue known to be risky but seen as last ditch effort to save the Vaquita from extinction. They utilized specially trained bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to locate the elusive Vaquita. Unfortunately, two female Vaquita were captured and immediately showed signs of stress. The Vaquita were released but one of them did not survive and therefore, VaquitaCPR was discontinued.