The reward is posted.
Now, to get word to the witnesses.
The federal government is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to a civil penalty or criminal conviction of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of two dolphins on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discovered a dead dolphin off the Naples coast in the week ending Feb. 9. The animal suffered a fatal wound, possibly from a bullet or sharp object.
Within the same week, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge experts recovered from Pensacola Beach a dolphin with a bullet in its left side
A dolphin, also with a fatal puncture wound to its head, was found off Captiva Island in May 2019.
Since 2002, at least 29 dolphins have stranded in the Southeast United States and there is evidence they were shot by guns or arrows or impaled with objects like fishing spears.
Four incidents have occurred within the last year.
A spokeswoman at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota said studies by the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program — a Chicago Zoological Society program in partnership and based at Mote — indicate that the Naples region and Sarasota region communities of dolphins are distinct from one another.
“Both communities have a high degree or residency, meaning they usually stay in the region” and are not migratory,” said Stephanie Kettle, public relations manager at Mote.
Most human-caused mortalities of Sarasota dolphins are related to fishing gear entanglement and boat strikes, Kettle said.
Not since the 1980s has Mote documented “a purposeful, malicious human interaction with a dolphin” in the Sarasota region, according to Kettle.
“We do continue to educate the public to never harass or attempt to feed dolphins,” she said.
The U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins, or attempting to do these activities.
Violations can be prosecuted either civilly or criminally.
They are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year in jail per violation.
Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are seeking information from anyone who may have details about the incidents.
Tips can be called into the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964.
This column was published in The Islander newspaper.
Archives for The Islander are online here.