SARASOTA – “It’s just sad that someone had to go out and murder a beautiful dolphin, it’s just not cool,” local boater and fisherman, Eric Bratton said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discovered dead dolphins off of Naples and another along Pensacola beach. They believe the wounds were from a bullet.
“We saw some form a heart coming out of the water once, never again,” Bratton said. “Beautiful animal, why would somebody harm it? I don’t know, just terrible.”
Local boater and fisherman, Eric Bratton, says he sees dolphins all the time and it’s just sad.
Another local, Randy Powell, says he believes the farther out you go, the more curious sea life and dolphins are.
“It’s not like these dolphins are scared of you,” local captain, Randy Powell said. “You’ll see them running towards you to check you out. And that’s unfortunate because then, a bad person, whoever is shooting them, he’s not taking a far shot.”
A local fisherman who asked to remain anonymous says they may understand why these dolphins are getting injured.
“If I’m fishing with people and I have to move because of this dolphin, somebody may get frustrated with that,” the local fishing guide said.
As a local fishing guide, they’re paid to take people fishing.
Dolphins are intelligent creatures.
Biologists think that dolphins are getting close because people are feeding them.
SNN reporter, Annette Gutierrez, asked Bratton if he thinks this is true.
“I do think that’s true. I hope it’s not, but I do believe it’s being done, not by locals, but by northerners, maybe getting a thrill out of that.”
Locals are hoping to spread awareness.
“If there was a way, maybe we need to invest some time into figuring a way to get dolphins to stay away from humans instead of getting them to come closer,” the local fishing guide said.
“Never feed the dolphins, they’re very smart, so keep your distance from them, just take pictures of them,” Powell said.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement 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 recent deaths of two dolphins in Florida.
NOAA officials are seeking information from anyone who may have details about these incidents. Please call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 1-800-853-1964. Tips may be left anonymously.
