Mexico has sharply reduced the protected area for the vaquita, a small porpoise found only in the northern Gulf of California, reopening much of its habitat to fishing, the Mexican newspapers El Universal and Excelsior reported, citing a decree in the government's official gazette.

The government published a decree in its official gazette, the Diario Oficial de la Federación, on Wednesday that shrinks the vaquita's protection zone and allows fishing where it was banned before, El Universal reported Thursday. Fishing in the reopened area will be allowed only with "approved alternative gear," the environment ministry, Semarnat, said, according to the paper.

Under the decree, the area where gillnets are banned falls from 11,106 square kilometers to 1,562 square kilometers, a cut of about 86%, Excelsior reported Wednesday night. That opens about 9,544 square kilometers to gillnet fishing starting Thursday, the paper said.

The "zero tolerance" zone, where all fishing is banned, stays in place, both outlets reported. A new channel through it will open for boat transit only, El Universal said. Excelsior said that zone covers 225 square kilometers.

Vaquitas drown when they are caught in gillnets. Their numbers fell from about 567 in 1997 to an estimated seven to 10 animals in 2026, Excelsior reported Oct. 10.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that extending fishing bans would have hurt fishermen's incomes. The goal is to protect the vaquita while letting people live "with well-being," she said, according to El Universal. Semarnat said the rules have scientific backing from the international vaquita recovery committee, known as CIRVA, and that boats must use satellite tracking, the paper reported. A new survey of the vaquita is planned for 2027 with the groups Sea Shepherd and Pronatura Noroeste, El Universal said.

What we know: Mexico has published a decree shrinking the vaquita's protected area while keeping the core no-fishing zone.
What we don't: How the change will affect the few vaquitas that remain.