Ban on frolicking with dolphins sought
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tourists look to the horizon as their boat searches for dolphins off Waianae.
JULIAN TYNE / MURDOCH UNIVERSITY
Swimming with dolphins is a dream for many tourists visiting Hawaii, but federal regulators are proposing rules that could ban or limit swimming with Hawaii’s spinner dolphins out of concern that humans are depriving the nocturnal animals of the rest they need. Here, People swim near dolphins in Makako Bay off Kailua-Kona.
Federal regulators are proposing to ban swimming with dolphins in Hawaii, a move that could imperil one of the Aloha State’s most popular tourist activities and the industry that has sprung up around it.
The National Marine Fisheries Service says spinner dolphins — the playful nocturnal species that humans in Hawaii routinely frolic with — are being deprived of rest during the day and becoming stressed out.
Swimming with dolphins is popular with visitors and some locals, with dozens of companies on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island operating dolphin tours daily.
The proposed rule could shut down or greatly disrupt the industry as it now operates. That’s because the ban would cover waters out to 2 nautical miles, which is where 98 percent of Hawaii’s spinner dolphins rest after they’ve spent the night feeding. Tour companies take customers to these close-to-shore waters to find dolphins.
There has to be a middle ground between the dolphin tour operators and what federal regulators are proposing, said Richard Holland, CEO of Dolphins and You, which takes about 80 customers on tours to waters off Oahu’s Waianae Coast each day. Customer reviews of his business on social media and other online sites often mention how their lives have been changed by going on a tour, he said.
“If you’re doing work that helps people — that enlightens them, inspires them, makes them feel good — that’s a good thing. There’s no need to take that away,” Holland said.
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Ann Garrett, assistant regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s protected-resources division for the Pacific Islands, said dolphins have been found to be burning calories at a higher rate because they are forced to be vigilant as people approach their pods.
“All of these things can contribute to a reduction of fitness over time — this kind of chronic level of stress. That’s what we’re concerned about,” Garrett said.
Scientists have not done any studies on how frolicking with humans has affected the dolphins’ numbers. But they fear the stress will harm the animals’ ability to reproduce.
The federal agency plans to hold public meetings on the regulations next month and expects to make a final decision next year.
Garrett said Tuesday that the agency aims to require swimmers, snorkelers and others in the water to stay at least 50 yards from the animals.
She said tour operators can follow this rule and still make a living. She said some already do so voluntarily.
Under the proposed rules, “those that are putting their people in the water to interact with dolphins, this would change the nature of what they’re doing,” she said. “They could still do snorkeling for other reasons — it’s just not setting their people within a pod of dolphins or within 50 yards of a dolphin.”
Hawaii’s spinner dolphins get their name from their habit of leaping in the air and spinning around. Some scientists say such behavior is not always playfulness and can instead be an attempt by a dolphin to alert others to danger.
Spinner dolphins eat fish and small crustaceans that surface from the ocean depths at night. At daybreak they gather in shallow bays to hide from tiger sharks and other predators.
When they sleep, they rest half their brains and keep the other half awake so they can surface and breathe. As a result, they can look awake and active even when asleep.
Unlike the better-known bottlenose and other dolphin species in Hawaii waters, they are highly predictable in their behavior, returning to the same general area every day. That makes them easy for tour groups to find.
The prohibitions would cover waters up to 2 miles off the main Hawaiian Islands. It would also apply farther from shore in certain waters between Maui, Lanai and Kahoolawe.
20 responses to “Ban on frolicking with dolphins sought”
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Makes sense, as most regulations do–if it’s fun and people are making a business out of it–BAN it!!!!!
I tell you what. Post your address on here and allow random people to come wake you up in the middle of the night and have a party in your house while you try to sleep, day after day after day. See how long you’re okay with that, physically and mentally.
or you could chose to not attend their parties
if the fish are tired- they go rest –
next you want to regulate their sleeping –
this is a ridiculous waste of time –
You pronounce your ign0rance when you can’t even distinguish the difference between fish and mammals. You shout your idiocy from the rooftops when you can’t understand that nobody is doing anything close to regulating the dolphins’ sleeping. The point is the dolphins are likely tired, but they can’t rest if humans keep coming into their house and waking them up.
80 people a day at $100 x 360 days a year = $2,880,000 annual gross. At best this is going to court.
Dolphins are highly intelligent animals. Once they realize that humans pose no threat I doubt that they get very stressed by the presence of snorkelers. perhaps the most telling line in the article is “Scientists have not done any studies on how frolicking with humans has affected the dolphins’ numbers. But they fear the stress will harm the animals’ ability to reproduce.” Just like banning GMO’s, no scientific support, only feel-good BS.
You’re right about dolphins being highly intelligent. They’re probably thinking “W*T*F?! I’m trying to sleep here!” At least that’s what I would be thinking if a bunch of strangers showed up at my house in the middle of the night making a ruckus.
Another Fed attempt at overreach. The Feds are making all kinds of claims of possible harm to the dolphins but without
any evidence to back up their claims. Just another grab for power which needs to be resisted.
I agree. Over regulation and constant government over reach coupled with a heavy dose of “big brother knows best”. The state much resist this idiotic power take over.
More ocean activities should be regulated. Companies do it for the almighty dollar without any concern for the safety of their customers and the creatures they infringe upon.
“Without ANY concern”? Exaggerate much???
Okay. Without much concern. Happy now??
About time for this !
How do they measure stressful a dolphin?
Obviously they Speak Dolphin language and go and ask them. LOL
Just ban swimming, surfing, diving, etc. in the ocean.
There might be a need for a sign that says “No solicitors or humans.” The dolphins just want to avoid eye contact with humans so that they don’t have to listen and talk to people.
I guess after partying and feasting all night …they need to crash during the day….
Dolphins are smart enough that if it were really a problem they would go elsewhere . No proof , no case.
As someone who has been fortunate enough to swim with the spinners at Honauaua, on Maui, on Oahu, and on Hawaii Island, and watched them many days from the shore of Kaho`olawe, I’d like to offer a few observations. Spinners are sometimes energetic, playing with people (and the leafs they bring into the ocean), and sometimes they cruise slowly, appearing to just want to be left alone. I’ve been with them for four hours at Honaunau, and they weren’t bothered by the shore-based swimmers. But when tour boats drop off uniformed tourists, they splash loudly into the water, chase the dolphins downward, and follow them on the surface relentlessly (same for kayakers and some stand-up paddle boarders). The dolphins come into certain shallow shore-line areas to rest after a long night’s hunting. Kayak and commercial boat tours follow them wherever they go along the Hawaiian Island’s coasts. As with most things, we need more education, a prevention of letting people chase them, and to show them more respect.