Feds propose ban on swimming with Hawaii's spinner dolphins

HONOLULU, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Proposed federal guidelines could ban interaction between Hawaii's spinner dolphins and people, ending the tourist practice of swimming with the dolphins.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will schedule public meetings across Hawaii within 60 days to address the proposal. The new rules, which would prohibit human travel by any means -- swimming, snorkeling or boating -- to within 50 yards of a spinner dolphin, would begin in 2017.

After studying their behavior for more than 10 years, NOAA concluded the dolphins are subject to stress because of humans eager to touch and swim with them.

The dolphins sleep in the daylight and travel by night, Ann Garrett of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service said.

"During the day, they're resting in near-shore waters, so it makes them very vulnerable to dolphin-directed activities. They may abandon their habitat and have increasing health problems. We can't function as well as we could with a good night sleep, same with dolphins. Over time, their health may be impacted. They may not nurture young as well. They may abandon their young or habitat, and they may suffer long-term population impacts."

Officials said the proposed rules are meant to protect the health and sustainability of the dolphins. Rules are already in force to reduce the "take" of the mammals, established in the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. "Take" is defined as "to harass, hunt, capture or kill" any marine mammal, with "harass" further defined as any act of pursuit, torment of annoyance leading to disruption of behavioral patterns.

The proposed rule's enforcement would include warnings and fines for civil violations and criminal offenses.