The main threat to the franciscana is bycatch in gillnet fisheries in its native coastal waters of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
A procedure used by purse seine operators that facilitates the escape of trapped dolphins. The backdown occurs after the majority of the net is on board. At this point net retrieval is stopped, the net is tied to the vessel and the engine is put into reverse. This creates a water current that causes the net remaining in the water to form a long channel. The water current also pulls the end of the channel under water providing an area for dolphins to escape (Jefferson et al. 1992).
Jefferson, T.A., Wursig, B. and Fertl, D. 1992. Cetacean detection and responses to fishing gear, pp. 663-684. In: Marine mammal sensory systems. Plenum Press, New York.