Sunday Star-Times

Dolphin ban plan

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Swimming with dolphins is to be banned in Hawaii, with United States government officials saying the practice harms the animals by denying them rest and interrupti­ng their socialisin­g. The National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to introduce rules that would make it illegal to come within 50 metres of the Hawaiian spinner dolphin, which is predictabl­e in its movements and easy to locate by tour operators. The operators say the plans are unnecessar­y and will destroy dolphin tourism. Officials say that because the dolphins forage in deep water at night, they need time during the day close to shore to relax and sleep without being bothered by tourists.

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