Burmeister’s Porpoise is considered a coastal species that frequents inshore bays, channels, and fjords (e.g. Ecoregion Chiloense, Tierra del Fuego), and is occasionally observed inside the kelp line (Goodall et al 1995, N. Dellabianca pers. obs). It is typically found in continental shelf waters, but occasionally has been recorded in water up to 1,000 m deep (Brownell and Clapham 1999). There have also been records from more offshore waters, 50 km from the coast of Argentina. In Peru, an unusual report of a group of 150 individuals was registered 20km offshore (Van Waerebeek et al. 2002).

Available information suggests that Burmeister’s Porpoise forages on demersal and pelagic fish species, such as anchovy and hake (Reyes and Van Waerebeek 1995), as well as various squids and shrimps (Goodall et al. 1995). Analysis of stomach contents of 69 individuals from central Peru identified Peruvian Anchovy Engraulis ringens as the main prey, followed by Silverside Odontesthes regia (García-Godos et al. 2007). The main prey found in the stomachs of four individuals collected separately were Argentine Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), Argentine Shortfin Squid (Illex argentinus), Patagonian Squid (Loligo gahi), Argentine Hake (Merluccius hubbsi), Pampanito (Stromateus brasiliensis) and Savorín (Seriolella punctata) (E. Crespo, unpub. data).

Diseases and parasites have been reported for Burmeister’s Porpoises, including helminths such as trematodes and nematodes (Reyes and Van Waerebeek 1995). Poxvirus was first reported in individuals in Pucusana, Peru (Van Bressem et al. 1993), as well as genital warts. The genital lesions were of sufficient severity to affect reproductive success (Van Bressem et al. 1999, 2007).

Burmeister's Porpoise is in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Appendix II of the Bonn Convention (Convention on Management of Migratory Species - CMS).

Further research is urgently needed to provide abundance estimates for a representative proportion of the species’ total range, and more up-to-date, quantitative information on human-caused mortality as well as information on ecology and reproductive biology.

Acoustic deterrents (pingers) were tested as a mitigation measure to reduce bycatch in small-scale driftnets in Peru, and showed a reduction of 37% in the combined dolphin and porpoise bycatch (Mangel et al. 2013). Updated information on bycatch rates and use of the species is a priority. Innovative approaches (e.g., vessel monitoring systems (Bartholomew et al. 2018) and passive acoustic methods) to reduce porpoise/gillnet interactions are clearly needed in order to reduce the incidental catch of Burmeister's Porpoises in fisheries.