Thirty-three people have been referred to U.S. federal law enforcement for allegedly harassing a pod of dolphins off the coast of Hawaii, state authorities said.
Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said in a press release that a large group of swimmers"actively pursued" the marine mammalsin Hōnaunau Bay, located on the southwestern coast of the state’s Big Island, on Sunday morning.
The agency said that they received drone video and photographs that appear to show a group of swimmers “aggressively pursuing, corralling, and harassing” the dolphins. Officers from the DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement contacted the group in the water to make them aware of the violation, and then uniformed officers on land met the group once they got back to the shore.
It is a federal crime in the state to approach orswim within 50 yards of a Hawaiian spinner dolphin, according to NOAA. The rule, which was implemented in 2021 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, applies to any person swimming or in a boat, canoe or paddle board within 2 nautical miles from the shores of the main Hawaiian islands.
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
Hawaii has numerous prohibitions put in place to protect marine wildlife, including monk seals, which are protected under theEndangered Species Act, theMarine Mammal Protection Actand Hawaii law.
In July, one woman was injured while swimming off the shore of Hawaii when amother monk seal attacked herwhile defending her pup.
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DLNR’s investigation concluded that the woman did nothing to provoke the incident.
source: people.com
