UKDIVING
The sheer size and power of a bottlenose dolphin means they should always be respected
It ' sforthisreasonweneedtoensurethat solitarydolphinsremainwild , andthat theyretaintheirnaturalinstinctsfortheir ownwelfareandprotection .”
Whenasolitarydolphinappearsaround theUKcoastline ( orfurtherafield ), Marine Connectionworkscloselywithrelevant authoritiesandmembersofthelocal publictomonitortheindividual . While there ' smuchtobelearnedfromobserving theindividualswhichfrequentthesame areaoveraperiodoftime , it ' svitalthat theirsafetyisparamountandanywelfare threatsaddressed .
MarineConnectiondevelopsatailored actionplanforeachsolitaryanimal . This helpsascertainwhatcanbeachievedto affordthemgreaterprotection , inboth theshortandlongterm . Avitalpartofthis programmeispublic / mediaoutreachto increaseawarenessastowhatconstitutes goodbehaviouraroundtheindividual marinemammaltoensureitswelfare . Diversandotherboatusersareencouraged tofollowtheguidanceproducedbyMarine Connection ( below ), astonotcauseany harmtothedolphinsbywayofharassment ortheriskofavesselstrike .
InlateAugust2021amemorialforDanny wasunveiledatPortlandmarina , Dorset , thefirstofitskindforasolitarydolphinin theUK . Watchingasolitarydolphininits naturalhabitatisofcourseaveryspecial experience , howeverjustaswehumans needourpersonalspaceandrest , so dothey . �
SOLITARY DOLPHINS :
ADVICE FOR WATER USERS
■ Keepasteadystraightcourse , putengineinneutral ifdolphinapproaches .
■ Keepyourdistance ( 100metres ).
■ Ifthedolphinisfrequentingaspecificareatorestor feed , donotdisturb .
■ Donotchaseorchangedirectiontofollowthe dolphin , assuddenmanoeuvrescanresultinimpact .
■ Donotencouragethedolphinnearyourvessel , as thiscanresultininjuryfrompropellers .
Extracted from the Marine Connection ’ s report on solitary cetaceans ‘ Lone Rangers ’, which can be accessed at marineconnection . org / social-solitary-cetaceans /
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