MEXICO CITY — The Sea Shepherd environmental group said Friday that one of its ships was attacked with rocks and partly set afire by a flotilla of about 20 fishing boats in Mexico’s Gulf of California. The vaquita is nearing extinction due to gill nets set illegally to catch totoaba, a fish whose swim bladder commands astronomical prices because it is considered a delicacy in China. Sea Shepherd published a video Friday showing a flotilla of fast, small fishing boats swarming around its larger vessel, the Farley Mowat. Three weeks earlier, a group of small boats attacked the Farley Mowat with lead net weights. Sea Shepherd operates in the Gulf with the knowledge and cooperation of the Mexican government to help detect illegal nets.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 02, 2019 00:33 UTC