We're interrupting dolphins' downtime, and it's wearing them out

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Too much contact with humans may have negative effects on dolphin eating and mating habits.

Tourists and locals looking for close encounters with dolphins may be causing the marine mammals to have trouble resting and mating.

Spinner dolphins near Hawaii experience chronic exposure to human activities, spending more than 82 per cent of their time around humans.

This could lead to rest deprivation, displacement from resting habitats and to lower population levels, researchers say.

Bottlenose Dolphins are pictured in Doubtful Sound.

And there are implications for dolphins in New Zealand, with Doubtful Sound dolphins facing similar effects.

**READ MORE:

Spinner Dolphins from 'Deep Blue'. A Hopscotch release. In cinemas December 2, 2004. Ph: 02 9319 0233

* Pod of dolphins delight onlookers in Auckland

* Māui's dolphin found dead on beach

* Photographer 'smitten' by NZ, aces dolphin images

* New app data highlights urgency to protect dolphins on brink of extinction**

Department of Conservation Marine Species and Threats science advisor Laura Boren said studies of dolphin interactions with people in NZ have shown changes in behaviour, group cohesion, and movement patterns for dolphins targeted by tourism operations.

In some cases, restrictions have had to be put in place to protect the marine mammals.

Project Jonah general manager Daren Grover warned intrusive humans could affect pods of dolphins and the creatures' ability to hunt.

'What we're aware of regionally in New Zealand with humans constantly interacting with dolphins is that they move away from that area,' he said.

Grover urged everyone to be respectful of dolphins, as people's curiosity over the creatures could see them get too close sometimes.

'Please be aware that these are wild animals and they have needs like wild animals and one of those needs is not to be disturbed,' he said.

The Department of Conservation has guidelines for dealing with aquatic mammals like dolphins in a way that doesn't harm them.

That includes ensuring you travel at a 'no wake' in aquatic vehicles when within 300m of any marine mammal, making sure you don't circle marine mammals or obstruct their path as well as remembering to approach them from behind and to the side, among other guidelines.

Doubtful Sound in Fiordland had a 'code of management' that all of the tourism operators had signed up to, Boren said.

That reduced the number and duration of interactions with the bottlenose dolphin population that live there and created Dolphin protection zones that give marine mammals space and time to themselves, she said.

'Let's remember that we're visiting their environment … give them a wide berth,' Grover added.