Foto portada © Emanuel Tiberi
The Franciscana dolphin, also known as the La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei), is an endemic species of the Atlantic coast of South America, inhabiting both marine and freshwater environments. It can be found in coastal waters up to 30 meters deep, as well as in the mouths of large rivers and estuaries, such as the Río de la Plata. Its distribution ranges from 18°25’S in Brazil to 41°09’10”S in the Province of Río Negro, Argentina. The primary threats to this species are habitat degradation, pollution, and, most significantly, incidental capture in fishing nets. As a result, the Franciscana has been classified as “Vulnerable” both globally and nationally (MAyDS and AA, 2017; Zerbini et al., 2017).
Species status tables, by year.
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2021
CITATION CONSERVATION STATUS (IUCN criteria) Global Vulnerable, 2017 1 Regional – Patagonian Sea Endangered, 2016 4 Argentina Vulnerable, 2019 2 POPULATION SIZE (Individuals) Global 35,500 1 Argentina 14,175 3 POPULATION TREND Global Decreasing 1 Argentina Decreasing 1 CURRENT SITUATION IN ARGENTINA Number of Registered Management Units in Argentina 1 (FMA IV) 1
Marine Protected Areas with the presence of the species
- Punta Bermeja Faunal Reserve
- Caleta de los Loros-Pozo Salado-Punta Mejillón Multiple Use Reserve
- Restinga del Faro Geological and Faunal Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- Rincón de Ajó Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- Bahía Samborombón Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- San Blas Multiple Use Nature Reserve
- Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area
- Arroyo Zabala Provincial Multiple Use Reserve
- Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde Provincial Multiple Use Nature Reserve
- Pehuén Co – Monte Hermoso Provincial Geological, Paleontological and Archaeological Reserve
- Islote Lobos National Park
Marine areas of intensive use by the species
General distribution described for the coastal strip (up to the 30 m isobath, or approximately 45/55 km), from the estuary of the Río de la Plata to the San Matías Gulf in Chubut. At least two sites have been identified as areas of intense use: the southern part of Bahía Samborombón and Bahía San Blas.
Marine Protected Areas within areas of intensive use by the species
- Bahía Samborombón Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- San Blas Multiple Use Nature Reserve
- Punta Bermeja Faunal Reserve
- Caleta de los Loros-Pozo Salado-Punta Mejillón Multiple Use Reserve
- Restinga del Faro Geological and Faunal Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- Rincón de Ajó Defined Purpose Nature Reserve
- Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area
- Arroyo Zabala Provincial Multiple Use Reserve
- Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde Provincial Multiple Use Nature Reserve
- Pehuén Co – Monte Hermoso Provincial Geological, Paleontological and Archaeological Reserve
- Islote Lobos National Park
- Puerto Lobos Protected Natural Area
- North of the Península Valdés Protected Natural Area
- Zerbini, A.N., Secchi, E., Crespo, E., Danilewicz, D. & Reeves, R. 2017. Pontoporia blainvillei (errata version published in 2018). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T17978A123792204. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T17978A50371075.en
- Denuncio, P. E.; Paso Viola, N.; Cáceres-Saez, I.; Cappozzo, H. L.; Rodríguez, D.; Mandiola, A. (2019). Pontoporia blainvillei. En: SAyDS–SAREM (eds.) Categorización 2019 de los mamíferos de Argentina según su riesgo de extinción. Lista Roja de los mamíferos de Argentina.
- Crespo, E.A., Pedraza, S.N., Grandi, M.F., Dans, S.L., Garaffo, G.V., (2010). Abundance and distribution of endangered Franciscana dolphins in Argentine waters and conservation implications. Marine Mammal Science 26, 17–35.
- Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea, 2019. Report of the IUCN Regional Red List First Workshop for Species of the Patagonian Sea – 2016: Marine Mammals. V. Falabella & C. Campagna (Eds). http://marpatagonico.org/publicaciones/
- Bordino, P., Wells, R. S., & Stamper, M. A. (2008). Satellite tracking of Franciscana Dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei in Argentina: preliminary information on ranging, diving and social patterns. In International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee Meeting SC60/SM14.