Hawaii Conservation Refers 33 Snorkelers to Feds For Dolphin Harassment

33 snorkelers were cited by a Hawaii conservation organization for multiple instances of dolphin harassment.

Multiple Dolphin Harassment Case of 33 Snorkelers

After being allegedly observed aggressively pursuing, harassing, and corraling a pod of dolphins in Hawaii on Sunday, a group of 33 swimmers is being investigated and could face imprisonment along with fines, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

In the waters off Hnaunau Bay near Hawaii's Big Island, drone footage revealed that a group of snorkelers was harassing the dolphins by pursuing the defenseless marine mammals in any direction they tried to swim.

The swimmers were discovered by DO-CARE or the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers who were conducting a routine check in the South Kona District.

DO-CARE informed the swimmers of the infraction, and as soon as they exited the water, "uniformed officers" began an investigation, according to a press release from Land and Natural Resources.

Hawaii's DOCARE claims that the group has been deputized as federal officers and is qualified to enforce federal marine laws.

Under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it is illegal for anyone to approach a Hawaiian spinner dolphin that is also less than two nautical miles from the main Hawaiian Islands' shoreline from within 50 yards of it.

A year in prison or a fine of up to $20,000 could be imposed on the swimmers in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

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Spinner Dolphins

Spinner dolphins are nocturnal mammals, which means that they hunt for their prey at night. They are well-known for their acrobatic behaviors in the water. They generally hunt for shrimp, small fish, and squid.

Due to their prolonged exposure to humans during the day, spinner dolphins were prohibited from swimming with humans by US regulators in 2021.

Weighting between 130 and 170 pounds, spinner dolphins are popular for their acrobatic prowess and frequently inhabit the Pacific Ocean, the New York Post reports.

The spinner dolphins of Hawaii enjoy eating fish and small crustaceans that surface from the depths of the ocean at night. They move to shallow bays as soon as the sun comes up to flee from tiger sharks as well as other predators.

The dolphins appear to be awake during the day because they are swimming, but they may be sleeping even when they are moving through the water. They do this by resting only half of their brains. The other half of their brain is kept half awake so they can surface and breathe, according to Associated Press.

Spinner dolphins might be compelled to move to a less safe area if their resting habitat were disturbed. Even if the species would seem to be curious about or even enjoy human interaction, any energy expended in responding to human activity diverts energy away from these essential survival behaviors.

Their health and well-being may be impacted when their sleep is interrupted, in particular, if it occurs frequently throughout the day. Furthermore, in some dolphin populations throughout the globe, regular close encounters with people have been linked to biologically significant effects, such as habitat abandonment, decreased female reproductive success, hampered activity or energy budgeting, as well as increased vigilance, NOAA reports.