==保育狀況==

小頭鼠海豚從未被直接捕獵。其依然生存都是要到1985年才能確定。不過牠們的數目卻正在下降，因牠們經常被困在捕捉[[加利福尼亞灣石首魚]]的[[流刺網]]中。每年就有39-84隻小頭鼠海豚被刺網所殺，（主要因为他们的花胶很昂贵）。[[世界自然保護聯盟]]就將牠們列為[[極危物種]]。[[墨西哥]]為了保護牠們，在[[加利福尼亞灣]]及[[科羅拉多河]][[三角洲]]設立了自然保護區。另外，使用含[[氯]]的[[殺蟲劑]]、科羅拉多河因灌溉而水流減少及近親繁殖等，都使牠們的數量減少。<ref name="Inbreeding">{{Cite journal en|title=Examining the risk of inbreeding depression in a naturally rare cetacean, the Vaquita|author=Taylor and Rojas-Bracho|journal=Marine Mammal Science|volume=15|pages=1004-1028}}</ref>2017年，60余名科学家与潜水员试图将小头鼠海豚转移至安全地带，然而最终该计划因小头鼠海豚的应激反应与死亡而失败。<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guokr.com/article/442554/|title=加州湾鼠海豚的最后拯救项目宣告失败|accessdate=2018-3-10|author=Robin McKie|date=2017-12-11|publisher=果壳网}}</ref>

===極危物種===

小头鼠海豚是世界上最濒危的[[鯨豚類|鲸豚类]]动物，自1996年便被列为[[極危物種|极度濒危物种]]。<ref>Jaramillo-Legorreta, A.; Rojas-Bracho, L.; Brownell, R. L.; Read, A. J.; Reeves, R. R.; Ralls, K.; Taylor, B. L. (15 November 2007). "Saving the vaquita: immediate action, not more data". ''Conservation Biology'': 1653–1655. doi:[https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1523-1739.2007.00825.x 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00825.x].</ref>1997年年时小头鼠海豚估计数量为约600只，<ref>Rojas-Bracho, L.; Reeves, R. R.; Jaramillo-Legorreta, A.; Taylor, B. L. (2008). [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/17028/0 "''Phocoena sinus''"]. ''IUCN Red List of Threatened Species''. IUCN. '''2008''': e.T17028A6735464. doi:[https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T17028A6735464.en 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T17028A6735464.en].检索自2018-3-10</ref>随后逐年下降，2014年时数量便低于100只，2015年为约60只，2016年11月为30只，<ref name="CIRVA-V">{{Cite web|url=http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/713/files/original/2014_Vaquita_Report_Fifth_Meeting_of_CIRVA.pdf?1408479198/|author=‘Comité Internacional para la Recuperación de la Vaquita (CIRVA) |title=Report of the Fifth Meeting of the Comité Internacional para la Recuperación de la Vaquita|year=2014|accessdate=2014-08-03}}</ref><ref name="Passport">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/vaquita/|author=Aquarium of the Pacific|title=Vaquita|year=2009|accessdate=2009-03-02}}</ref>2018年3月则仅有12只。<ref>[https://news.mongabay.com/2018/03/only-12-vaquita-porpoises-remain-watchdog-groups-report/ "Only 12 vaquita porpoises remain, watchdog group reports"]. ''news.mongabay.com''. 检索自2018-2-10.</ref>根据2018年夏天收集的声学数据，全世界只剩下最多22只、至少6只幼年小頭鼠海豚，[[國際自然保護聯盟]]预计约有10只左右。<ref name = "MND2019.03.07">{{cite web |url= https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/count-reveals-just-22-vaquita-remain/| title= Just 22 vaquita porpoises remain and illegal gillnets could soon wipe them out|date= 2019-03-07|website= Mexico News Daily|access-date= 2019-03-14|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190314202504/https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/count-reveals-just-22-vaquita-remain/|archive-date= 2019-03-14}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://time.com/5552189/sea-shepherd-vaquita-porpoise-endangered-mexico/|title=One of About 10 Endangered Vaquitas Found Dead in Mexico|website=Time|language=en|access-date=2019-03-17}}</ref><ref name = "ME2019-03-16">{{cite web |url= https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/report-only-ten-vaquita-left| title= Report: Only Ten Vaquita Left|date= 2019-03-16|website= The Maritime Executive|publisher= |access-date= 2019-03-18|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190318035823/https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/report-only-ten-vaquita-left|archive-date= 2019-03-18}}</ref>