Seven species of penguins are recorded for the Patagonian Sea and 4 of them reproduce along the coasts of Patagonia and the Malvinas Islands: Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua).

Penguins are species exposed to oil pollution. They also appear as by-catch in fishing nets, and are threatened by potential competition for food with coastal fisheries (for example, the expansion of Argentine anchovy fisheries could have a negative impact on populations of penguins).