Don't Feed Wild Dolphins

Dolphin interactions with recreational fishing gear are on the rise. Here are some tips to help maintain your bait, catch and gear, while helping to prevent serious or even fatal injuries to dolphins and other sea life. These "best fishing practices" were developed through the efforts of a team of researchers from NOAA's Fisheries Service, the Chicago Zoological Society, Mote Marine Laboratory and Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute. They were developed by reviewing information gathered from research observations at fishing piers and elsewhere, interviewing recreational anglers and fishing guides, and re-emphasizing current conservation efforts and existing regulations.

1. Never feed wild dolphins — it's harmful and illegal
   • Feeding is illegal under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.
   • Feeding teaches dolphins to beg for food and draws them dangerously close to fishing gear and boat propellers.
2. Reuse or share leftover bait
   • Freeze leftover bait for later or give it to your fishing neighbor.
   • Dumping leftover bait may attract dolphins to fishing areas to beg or steal bait and catch.
3. Reel in your line if dolphins appear
   • Reel in and wait for dolphins to pass to avoid losing your bait or catch and prevent potential harm to dolphins.
   • Never cast towards dolphins.
   • If a dolphin approaches your line, reel in and wait until it leaves. If a dolphin approaches your line, reel in and wait until it leaves.
4. Change locations if dolphins show interest in bait or catch
   • Move away from dolphins to avoid unintentionally hooking one and prevent damage to gear or catch.
   
5. Release catch quietly away from dolphins when and where it is possible to do so without violating any state or federal fishing laws or regulations
   • Feeding or attempting to feed a marine mammal in the wild is prohibited.
6. Check gear and terminal tackle
   • Inspect your gear often to avoid unwanted line breaks — even small amounts of gear in the water can be harmful to wildlife if entangled or ingested.
7. Use circle and corrodible hooks
   • Circle hooks may reduce injuries to fish, dolphins, and sea turtles.
   • Corrodible hooks (any hook other than stainless steel) eventually dissolve.
8. Stay at least 50 yards away
   • Stay a safe distance from wild dolphins to avoid causing potential harm.
   • Maintaining a safe distance helps keep dolphins wild.
9. Recycle fishing line
   • Place all broken or used fishing line in a Monofilament Fishing Line Recycling Bin.
   • If no recycling bins are available, place broken or used fishing line that has been cut into pieces in a lidded trash can.
10. Stash your trash
    • Littering is illegal and can be harmful to wildlife.
    • Collect any trash you've left behind and place it in a lidded trash can.

To report feeding or harassment of wild dolphins, call the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Enforcement Division at: 1-800-853-1964. To report an injured or entangled dolphin, or other wildlife, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922)

Want to learn how to handle a stranded dolphin or other marine mammal?

Volunteer with the folks from MARS! The Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) located in Miami-Dade County, Florida is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of marine animals through rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education.

To be a MARS Rescue and Rehab volunteer and be called on to respond to strandings, you must first attend a basic training session. They are usually offered 4 times a year and are free. Here you will learn the basics of beach rescue, rehabilitation and animal husbandry; how the U.S. stranding network operates and what MARS' role is within the network; you will get a brief course in marine mammalogy and become familiar with your new role and responsibilities as a MARS volunteer!

The next training session is coming right up: Saturday, March 21, 2009, 10am - 3pm, to be held on beautiful Key Biscayne, upstairs in a classroom in the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center. In the morning, MARS' Stranding Director Pamela Sweeney and Education Coordinator Donna Clements will lead a discussion. All attendees will receive a Basic Rescue and Rehabilitation manual. Lunch is NOT provided; 45 minutes are allocated. The second half of the day will be spent outside where you will participate in a hands-on stretcher workshop. Volunteers will learn how to orient themselves relative to a beached dolphin or whale, become familiar with working with a stretcher and put to use techniques discussed during the first part of the training.

RSVP required — Email (donnaclements at AOL.com) or call Donna Clements at 786-222-8673.

The training is free to all attendees; however, MARS encourages you to purchase a rescue team t-shirt for a minimum donation of $10 as part being a rescue volunteer. You can also become a MARS member at the meeting! There are non-rescue team tees available (including membership tees). All proceeds help to offset printing costs and future rescue/rehab costs.

MARS was founded in 1996 and holds a Letter of Agreement from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to rescue, rehabilitate, and release marine mammals stranded in South Florida. If you see a marine mammal in distress please call 1-888-404-FWCC. http://www.marineanimalrescue.org/