IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category Year Assessed
Near Threatened Red List Criteria Version
Reeves, R.R., Crespo, E.A., Dans, S., Jefferson, T.A., Karczmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Pedraza, S., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E.R., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y.. & Zhou, K. Reviewer/s
Brownell Jr., R.L. & Cooke, J. (Cetacean Red List Authority) Contributor/s Justification
The best available information indicates that the total population size is only in the low thousands, meaning that the number of mature individuals is likely to be fewer than 10,000 and therefore it is likely that the population size threshold for Vulnerable under criterion C is met. Subcriterion C1 requires an estimated continuing decline of at least 10% within the next three generations, or 42 years (14 years per generation for this species according to Taylor et al. 2007). Although there is reason to suspect that this subcriterion would be met, no estimate of decline rate is available. Therefore, the species is best considered Near Threatened, pending better information on both numbers and rate of decline. History
Bycatch rates are poorly known, several threats in addition to bycatch have been identified, and the species has a restricted range. Therefore, it is urgent that range-wide research be conducted on the current status of this species. Re-assessment should be a high priority once better information becomes available.