Environment officials in Hawaii have opened cases against 33 swimmers who allegedly harassed a pod of dolphins in Hōnaunau Bay Sunday morning.
According to a statement from Hawaiis Department of Land and Natural Resources, officers with the agencys Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) were patrolling the South Kona District when they spotted the offending group of swimmers.
Drone video and photos show the group of 33 swimmers chasing the dolphins in the bay. The swimmers “appear to be aggressively pursuing, corralling, and harassing the pod,” officials said.
DOCARE officers made contact with the swimmers in the water, and directed them to land, where they were met by uniformed officers, the agency said. DOCARE officers are “deputized as federal officers,” authorized to enforce federal marine laws including the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the agency said.
A joint investigation was initiated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of Law Enforcement. The cases will be referred to the NOAA office for review and final disposition.
