Vaquita

In her compelling audiobook, Brooke Bessesen explores the plight of the vaquita, the world's most endangered marine mammal, native to the Upper Gulf of California. With a unique blend of interviews and firsthand accounts, she delves into the complex interactions among local fishermen, scientists, and activists as they confront the devastating impact of illegal gillnetting driven by a lucrative black market for the totoaba fish. As diplomatic efforts falter, Bessesen follows experts attempting to capture the remaining vaquitas for breeding, highlighting the urgent questions surrounding extinction and conservation in a world where profit often trumps preservation.