By 2010, the population of the vaquita porpoise had collapsed due to habitat pressures and gillnet fishing in the Gulf of California. This decline marked a critical point for conservation efforts, as the vaquita became one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The situation highlighted the urgent need for effective environmental policies and protection measures to preserve biodiversity. The plight of the vaquita serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of human activity on marine ecosystems.

The population collapse of the vaquita porpoise in 2010 highlighted issues of bycatch and silent oceans in marine mammal poetry. Poets are using the plight of the vaquita to advocate for conservation, raising awareness about endangered species and the urgent need for environmental stewardship through their creative expressions.