Picture this: You’re out on the water, catching some fish for dinner in your prime spot when someone boats over, right on top of you. They’re loud, they’re close enough that you’re worried about a collision, and when you try to move, it seems like they’re following you. Do you stay and try to get your catch before moving on, or do you leave your prime spot for somewhere quieter, risking the possibility you won’t find the dinner you were hoping for?
Unfortunately, this is the reality for some Keys locals – the dolphins that call the Keys home. The field research team from Dolphin Research Center has been seeing multiple events of wild dolphins getting harassed, and even worse, are seeing the effects on the behavior of the local dolphin community.
Harassment includes feeding, harming, attempting to touch, swimming with, following or intentionally getting within 50 yards of wild dolphins. And while harassment of marine mammals is already illegal in the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it seems many people don’t know it’s illegal, or don’t understand why it’s illegal to feed or get close to wild dolphins.
Humans pose the greatest risk to wild dolphins, and those risks get more severe when dolphins are habituated to people. Dolphins that have learned to beg for food from humans are some of the most at risk. Maybe some people think they’re being nice, tossing a fish to a dolphin in the wild. But in doing so, they are setting that dolphin up for a dangerous and often tragic lifestyle.
Begging dolphins have a higher risk of boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, but also risk malnutrition from eating poor quality fish or inappropriate food and items handed to them. Begging dolphins also become nuisances for fishermen, as they have learned to follow boats in hopes of getting a handout, but can run into conflict with fishermen trying to get their work done. Dolphins can ruin fishermen’s opportunity for a good catch, and begging dolphins become more persistent around boats and even in some cases aggressive about stealing catches.
Dolphins in the Gulf have a high incident rate of injury from humans as well, including gunshot wounds, hunting arrow wounds and impalement from sharp objects.The offspring of mother dolphins who are fed by humans have a higher risk of dying, as they learn begging instead of hunting techniques.
At one point, the Dolphin Research Center field research team – the only team in the Middle Keys permitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service to carefully approach wild dolphins for population and health studies – watched as a jet ski tour separated a mom and her calf, chasing the baby in order to get close. After the research team called the tour guide over, the guide had no idea the tour had scared away mom, even though they knew they weren’t supposed to “harass” dolphins. The guide thought getting close didn’t qualify as harassment.
Humans interfere with natural wild dolphin behavior, even if the humans have good intentions. Dolphins need to rest, socialize, mate, nurse their young, catch their fish and avoid predators to survive in the wild. The presence of boats and swimmers interrupts these natural behaviors, and resting dolphins have to be alert when vessels come by. Boats are also stressful to marine mammals, and marine mammals in areas with higher boating traffic may show signs of chronic stress.
How can you be a good neighbor to our flippered Keys locals? Never feed wild dolphins. Don’t do it intentionally, and don’t discard unwanted catches when dolphins are nearby. Never chase or follow wild dolphins, and keep to at least the legal minimum distance of 50 yards. If dolphins approach your vessel, maintain your original course or go into neutral. If dolphins change their behavior, including slapping their tails, breaching on the water’s surface, breathing loudly (called “chuffing”), or changing their course, slowly leave the dolphins’ area, as these are all signs of disturbance. Be aware of when boats or shorelines may trap or separate animals. By being respectful and taking care of our wild dolphins here in the Keys, we also ensure these animals thrive in our shared home for generations to come.
Marine mammal violations can be reported to NOAA Fisheries’ enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964. Information can be left anonymously.
Scan the QR code to see frequently asked questions on feeding and harassing wild marine mammals.
