Footage of the person reducing up a fish into small items and feeding it to the dolphin at Tin Can Bay, south of K’gari (Fraser Island), was posted on-line and later reviewed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
“The video then shows the man cutting a mullet in pieces and feeding it to one of the adult dolphins on several occasions,” senior wildlife officer Tina Ball mentioned.
“During the investigation, the man admitted to hand-feeding a wild dolphin at Snapper Creek while his brother recorded the interaction.
As a result, the man was fined $431 – although it could have been far worse for him.
“The positive of $431 is far decrease than the utmost positive a courtroom can impose for feeding a wild dolphin, which sits at $11,500,” Ball said.
“People in boats and swimming within the water additionally want to provide dolphins house, and should preserve at the least 50 metres away if they’re within the water.
“Skippers must not approach within 150 metres in front of and behind a pod of dolphins and 50 metres if approaching from the sides of the pod.
“If a dolphin approaches a ship inside these distances the skipper should disengage the gears or withdraw from the realm at a velocity lower than six knots.
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“People who ignore these rules risk maximum penalties up to $17,000.”
Ball mentioned feeding dolphins can create surprising risks.
“There are other risks that people must be aware of, including dolphins associating boats and people with free food,” she mentioned.
“This can put wild dolphins in danger of being struck by vessels or becoming entangled in fishing gear if they begin to approach boats for food.”
Source: www.9news.com.au
