While many are getting ready for a Labor Day weekend full of boating, fishing, and other fun water activities, we are trying to cope with the fact that three local resident dolphins have died due to human-related activities within just two weeks in August.
Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program responds to distressed and deceased marine animals, working in collaboration with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP)*, a program of the Chicago Zoological Society based at Mote.
SDRP notes that, in their 50-year history of studying the local dolphin community, they have never seen three deaths from human activities within such a short period of time.
Mote and SDRP note that one deceased female dolphin, “Eve,” was 22 years old and had severe skull fractures from an apparent boat strike. Dolphin 1256, who was just four months old, was found entangled in fishing line with half his tail nearly severed. A 31-year old male dolphin named “BARK” had a fish hook embedded in his throat and fishing line coming from his mouth.
Here are wildlife friendly tips from MOTE designed for dolphins but helpful with all large marine animals:
- Don’t feed wild dolphins. Remember, it’s illegal!
- Reel in your fishing line if dolphins appear.
- Change locations if dolphins show interest in bait or catch.
- Release catch quietly away from dolphins when and where it is possible to do so without violating any state or federal fishing regulations.
- Check gear and terminal tackle to make sure it won’t break off easily and, if your line does break, be sure to collect anything left behind in mangroves or on docks.
- Use circle and corrodible hooks and avoid braided fishing line.
- Stay at least 50 yards away.
- Stash your trash in a lidded container on your boat until you can get to shore and dispose of it safely in a place where it will not blow back into the water.
- If you see an injured, entangled, or beached dolphin, DO NOT attempt to assist the animal. Please call trained responders immediately. Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, report any stranded or dead dolphins, manatees or sea turtles to Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program: (941) 988-0212. Elsewhere in Florida, please call FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922).
*Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program conducts permitted dolphin research activities under NMFS Permit #20455.