[1] Burmeister's porpoises frequent inshore bays, channels, and fjords,[1] but individuals have been spotted as far as 50 km (31 mi) from the shore and in the freshwater Valdivia River in southern Chile.

The shape and placement of the dorsal fin is unusual for a cetacean—it is triangular rather than curved and points backwards more than upwards.

[citation needed] Like all porpoises, Burmeister's is vulnerable to accidental capture in fishing nets.

[3] In Peruvian waters, Burmeister's porpoise caught as bycatch are primarily used for human consumption.

[1] Burmeister's porpoise is listed on Appendix II[6] of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

It is listed on Appendix II[6] as it has an unfavourable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international co-operation organised by tailored agreements.