Contact: Catherine Anderson        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         Scott Smullen             5/16/97

People who feed or swim with wild dolphins are in danger of harming the dolphins and themselves -- and those who feed or harass dolphins risk being fined for violating federal laws protecting dolphins, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.

Feeding wild dolphins has become an increasing and ongoing problem since the late 1980's in many southeast coastal areas, including Florida, Texas and the Carolinas. Additionally, people are swimming with wild dolphins, which may harass the animals. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is illegal to feed or harass wild dolphins. Over the past several years, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has posted warning signs, distributed educational materials and produced a public service announcement to help educate the public and commercial operators about the harmful consequences of interactions with dolphins.

"It's very important for people to understand the harm they may cause to wild dolphins and themselves," said Nancy Foster, deputy director of the fisheries service. "Dolphins have a reputation for being friendly to humans, but the fact remains they are powerful, wild animals that can be very aggressive. We hope the public will support our new outreach initiative."

However, many people continue to feed and swim with dolphins, particularly in Florida's coastal areas around Ft. Walton Beach, Panama City, Sarasota, Melbourne and Key West. The fisheries service and local authorities will be stepping up enforcement in those areas in collaboration with the Florida Marine Patrol. Officials will also be distributing new educational brochures and posters that explain why interactions with wild dolphins are harmful.

"We are taking feeding and harassing of wild dolphins seriously. But before any direct enforcement action is taken, we need to impress upon people that interactions with wild dolphins are harmful to the animals and can also be harmful to humans. People need to respect these animals in their natural habitat and let them stay wild," said Dave McKinney, chief of enforcement.

The fisheries service has contracted with the Florida Marine Patrol to provide additional enforcement and visibility for dolphin-related activities through the end of the year. In 1998, the fisheries service will commit an additional $600,000 to fund six enforcement officers who will concentrate on protected species issues, including dolphin feeding and harassment.

The prohibition against dolphin feeding was enacted by the fisheries service in 1991. In 1993, this prohibition was upheld by the Fifth Circuit for the United States Court of Appeals. This decision overturned a lower court ruling that suspended enforcement of the prohibition. Violation of this regulation carries civil and criminal penalties with fines up to $20,000.

The fisheries service has established guidelines for approaching dolphins in the southeastern United States. These guidelines recommend that boaters stay at least 50 yards from dolphins. "If a dolphin approaches you, we ask that you safely and slowly move away and not attempt an interaction," said Foster.

Foster said that feeding marine mammals alters their natural behavior. Instead of hunting for live fish, dolphins become accustomed to begging for food handouts from boaters. When the food fed to dolphins is non-natural or contaminated, it can pose a serious health risk and even death to the animals.

Fisheries service officials have received reports of people feeding dolphins beer, hot dogs and candy bars -- items Foster called "totally inappropriate and harmful."

Even more threatening is the danger that dolphins will become accustomed to people and lose the natural wariness that helps them survive as wild animals.

"When dolphins are begging for food, their natural behavior has been altered for the worse," said Trevor Spradlin, a fisheries service marine mammal biologist. "They will do dangerous things such as closely approaching moving boat propellers. There is a real concern that these dolphins are vulnerable to unsuspecting human abuse or shark attacks."

"Swimming with wild dolphins in the southeast is closely linked to people feeding dolphins," said Spradlin. "Truly wild dolphins will not typically hang around and interact with swimmers unless they have been enticed by food. Such activities risk harming wild dolphins."

Dolphins fed by people are also in danger of being perceived as "nuisance" animals. Increasingly, recreational and commercial fishermen in Florida have complained that dolphins have learned to take fish off their lines. The fishermen are unable to catch the fish they want and the dolphins run the risk of ingesting baited hooks. Recently two young dolphins were found dead with hooks and fishing line in their stomachs.

Scientists and conservationists are concerned that in the future, there will be public outcry to remove -- or even kill -- dolphins considered to be a nuisance. In the 1970's, public feeding of wild bears in Yellowstone National Park led to the destruction of some bears.