In Mexico's Upper Gulf of California, harmful fishing practices are driving the world's smallest porpoise, the vaquita marina, to the brink of extinction. To the south, on the coast of Chile's breathtaking Patagonia region, a proposed aluminum smelter threatens to contaminate one of the least polluted marine environments in the Americas and a possible breeding ground of the magnificent blue whale.

To ensure that these sensitive coastal habitat areas continue to thrive, NRDC has added them to our 2005 BioGems list. We are building public pressure on Ocean Garden, the Upper Gulf region's chief shrimp exporter, to help protect the vaquita by promoting truly sustainable fishing in the Upper Gulf. At the same time, we are demanding that the Canadian company Noranda help protect blue whales and other vulnerable wildlife by canceling plans to build an aluminum smelter in the Aysén region of Patagonia.

» Tell Ocean Garden not to purchase shrimp from the Upper Gulf until sustainable fishing practices are in place.
http://www.savebiogems.org/uppergulf/takeaction.asp

» Demand that Noranda abandon plans for the aluminum smelter on the Patagonia Coast.
http://www.savebiogems.org/patagonia/takeaction.asp