Hawaii authorities announced that they have referred 33 people to U.S. law enforcement after the group of people allegedly harassed a pod of wild dolphins. It is illegal to swim with Hawaii’s spinner dolphins because it can be harmful to their health and well-being. When humans swim with dolphins, it can cause stress to the […]
Tag: marine mammal protection act

Lactating female dolphin sadistically slaughtered with spear on Florida beach
A dolphin was found impaled by a spear on a Florida beach, prompting police to initiate an inquiry. The dolphin was believed to have been struck by the spear-like object before it died, according to police. Its body was later discovered washed ashore on the beach in Fort Myers last month. The Florida Fish and […]

A stranded dolphin has died after beachgoers on the Texas Gulf Coast tried to swim with and ride it
According to the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the dolphin was stranded on the sand at Quintana Beach when a group of people surrounded the animal and pushed it back to sea. The animal was then again stranded on the beach and died before rescuers from Quintana Beach County Park arrived on the scene. “This […]

Man sentenced for shooting protected elephant seal dead on California coast
A man has been sentenced to three months in federal prison for shooting a protected northern elephant seal to death on the central California coast. Armed with a .45-caliber handgun and a flashlight, on the night of 2 September 2019 Jordan Gerbich, 30, opened fire on an elephant seal at a popular viewing area where […]

NOAA declares “Unusual Mortality Event” for California Sea Lions
Beginning in January 2013, unusually high numbers of stranded California sea lion pups have been observed on the Southern California coast. Marine mammals naturally come ashore along our beaches if they are sick, wounded, or injured. This year, pups have been washing up with obvious signs of emaciation, dehydration, and low body weight for their […]

Red Tide Takes a Toll on Florida Manatees
Over the last two months, 180 manatees have been found dead along the coasts of Florida. The friendly and well-loved creatures of Florida’s waters are currently being threatened by an outbreak of red tide, an algal bloom which has proved to be toxic to the species. A harmful toxin in the algae enters the nervous […]