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Literature about Dolphin Harassment | Participant Feedback

Dolphin SMART is a partnership program developed by NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary and National Marine Fisheries Service, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, and the Dolphin Ecology Project. [Photo credit for dolphin banner images: Dolphin Ecology Project-under authority of NOAA Fisheries permit #911-1722-00]


to our current Dolphin SMART businesses. To view a list of participants, click here.

Mission: To promote responsible stewardship of wild dolphins inhabiting the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Background:

How To Be
Dolphin SMART:

Stay at least 50 yards from dolphins

Move away cautiously if dolphins show signs of disturbance

Always put your engine in neutral when dolphins are near

Refrain from swimming-with, touching, or feeding wild dolphins

Teach others to be Dolphin SMART

Dolphin SMART is a unique voluntary recognition and education program encouraging responsible viewing of wild dolphins in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Program participation is for commercial businesses conducting and booking wild dolphin tours in the Florida Keys. The Dolphin SMART program offers participation incentives for businesses that follow the program criteria and educate their customers about the importance of minimizing wild dolphin harassment. It also includes an important research component that provides insight about the daily lives of the local, wild dolphin population in Key West.

A SMART Start!
Dolphin SMART Program Purpose
What It Takes To Be Dolphin SMART
How Do I Know Who Is Dolphin SMART
What It Means To Be Dolphin SMART
Do Your Part, Book Dolphin SMART

A SMART Start!

Viewing wild dolphins in their natural habitat can be a thrilling experience. However, when we approach wild dolphins too closely, move too quickly, or make too much noise, we increase the risk of disturbing their natural behaviors, such as migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, and sheltering.

A special area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to a resident group of bottlenose dolphins. It is also where many businesses conduct dolphin tours in a small geographic area. This heightened amount of human activity in a small area may cause unnecessary stress to the local population by disrupting their natural behaviors. This prompted conservation agencies, including NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program and National Marine Fisheries Service, the Dolphin Ecology Projectexiting web site icon, and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Societyexiting web site icon, as well as local businesses and members of the public, to team up and develop a unique, multifaceted program encouraging responsible viewing of wild dolphins and recognizing businesses that participated. Before long, the program, called Dolphin SMART, was off to a great start.

Dolphin SMART Program Purpose:

  • Minimize the potential of wild dolphin harassment caused by commercial viewing activities.
  • Reduce expectations of wanting to closely interact with wild dolphins in a manner that may cause harassment.
  • Eliminate advertising that creates expectations of engaging in activities that may cause harassment.
  • Promote stewardship of the FKNMS.

What It Takes To Be Dolphin SMART: All participants must agree to:

  • Program Criteria
  • Training and Education
  • Evaluation Requirements

How Do I Know Who Is Dolphin SMART?

Upon successful completion of the training and evaluation, Dolphin SMART businesses receive materials recognizing them as active Dolphin SMART participants. Participants must complete an annual refresher training and evaluation to ensure active participation.

Dolphin SMART participants can easily be identified by a flag or decal displayed on their vessel featuring the Dolphin SMART logo and current calendar year.

What It Means To Be Dolphin SMART:

By participating in the program, Dolphin SMART businesses provide an enhanced tour experience by offering:

  • Detailed knowledge about the laws protecting wild bottlenose dolphins
  • How to responsibly view wild dolphins and recognize signs of harassment
  • Fun and informative educational materials
  • Details about local dolphin populations and research
  • Up-to-date knowledge about wild dolphin conservation by attending continuing education workshops to enhance educational opportunities for themselves and their customers

Do Your Part, Book Dolphin SMART!

By choosing to follow Dolphin SMART criteria, businesses demonstrate concern for dolphin conservation. The next time you choose a dolphin tour, do your part and book Dolphin SMART!

Dolphin SMART is funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the "Protect Wild Dolphins" license plate funds through Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

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Revised June 23, 2008 by Sanctuaries Web Team | Contact Us | For Employees | NMS Foundation
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