Better protection for spinner dolphins

Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has issued a statement in support of efforts to provide additional protection for spinner dolphins whose daytime rest periods are often disturbed by tour boats, kayakers, snorkelers and other ocean users.

The statement by DLNR Chairman Peter Young and three other department officials said the state supports any reasonable effort to prevent such disturbance. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service (NOAA) is developing an environmental impact statement and proposed dolphin protection rules to govern interactions between humans and spinner dolphins. The DLNR officials also clarified that the state has no authority to regulate activities involving spinner dolphins because the marine mammals are not listed as endangered species. However, the dolphins are covered under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with NOAA responsible for enforcement.

The DLNR statement says that they are confident there are management solutions that will allow for enjoyable, educational, economically viable and culturally appropriate dolphin watching activities in Hawai'i. It also said they will continue to support responsible shore-based and boat-based dolphin watching, especially during the early morning and late afternoon, when dolphins are not in their deep resting phase and more active.

NOAA will hold public meetings on proposed regulations on interactions between humans and spinner dolphins later this month.

For further information on this issue click here and go to Page 12 of the Marine Connection's publication Seventh Wave

Image: EII