Dear MARMAMers, Vaquita: Science, Politics, and Crime in the Sea of Cortez (foreword by Carl Safina) is now available in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions through Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/Vaquita-Science-Politics-Crime-Cortez-ebook/dp/B07F1 MX9X5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534624186&sr=8-1&keywords=vaquita+science> , AmazonMx <https://www.amazon.com.mx/Vaquita-Science-Politics-Crime-Cortez-ebook/dp/B0 7F1MX9X5/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1531952295&sr=8-2&keywords=vaquita> , AmazonUK <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vaquita-Science-Politics-Crime-Cortez/dp/161091931 9/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534624080&sr=8-1&keywords=vaquita%3A+scien ce> , AmazonCa <https://www.amazon.ca/> , and all other national Amazon platforms. Hardcovers are also available direct from the publisher, Island Press, at 50% off <https://islandpress.org/books/vaquita> until 10/7. In 2006, the last of Chinas Yangtze river dolphinsbaijisuccumbed to functional extinction, and la vaquita marina, a diminutive porpoise endemic to the Upper Gulf of California, quietly and without fanfare inherited the title of worlds most endangered marine mammal. Unlike many critically endangered species, the vaquita is not hunted. Nor is its habitat disappearing of degraded. The species is even protected by law. Why then have its numbers plummeted to near extinction? The answer lies in a shadowy mix of international cartels, fishermen entrapped by politics and culture, and an unlikely fish called totoaba. In this haunting story, Brooke Bessesen sets out to untangle the intricacies behind the vaquitas decline. She interviews townspeople, fishermen, scientists, and activists, teasing apart a complex story filled with villains and heroes, a story whose outcome is unclear. This beautifully written account of the forces driving extinctions around the world asks us to face a hard question: What will we do now? PRAISE FOR VAQUITA Passionate...a heartfelt and alarming tale. Publishers Weekly Intrepid conservation detective story. Nature Compelling. Library Journal A lucid, informed, and gripping account...a must-read. Science A well-told and moving tale of environmentalism and conservation. Kirkus Wonderful, heartbreaking beautifully written. Nature Conservancy If you teach biology, ecology, conservation, political science, environmental law, or a related subject and would like to include this informative and fast-paced narrative in your coursework, you can request an exam copy <https://islandpress.org/request-exam-copy> . ¡Viva vaquita! Brooke Bessesen Research Fellow Osa Conservation 480.860.0700