Abstract

A highly unusual sighting is described of a group of ca. 150 Burmeister’s porpoises near Isla Guañape Sur (08°28’04”S, 78°58’16.7”W) off the north-central Peruvian coast, in September 2001. The fishermen prepared to set a gillnet on the porpoises with the intention to catch some. This is the first observation supporting the concept that management measures of Burmeister’s porpoises must take into account at least occasional (illegal) directed takes. We critically review confirmed sightings (N=28) from Pacific coasts of South America, 78% of which involved small groups of 1-4 individuals (mode and median=2). Large groups are rare. All sightings occurred in neritic habitat.