the la plata dolphin is listed as "vulnerable" in the iucn red list of threatened species. however, the "franciscana" is a particular conservation concern because of its restricted distribution and vulnerability to incidental capture in fishing gear. large numbers are killed in gillnets. although the largest documented catches in the 1970s were in uruguay, catches in recent decades have also been high in southern brazil and argentina. scientists from all three countries have voiced their concerns, and asked for international assistance in highlighting the plight of the dolphin (see reeves et al., pg. 53).