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COSEE Island Earth Supports Dolphin SMART - 04.17.2013
COSEE Island Earth has joined NOAA in supporting the Dolphin SMART program. Dolphin SMART is a voluntary education program that recognizes wild dolphin viewing tour businesses that responsibly view dolphins.
The purpose of the Dolphin SMART program is to promote wild dolphin conservation through education and responsible advertising and viewing. Dolphin SMART helps prevent harassment of dolphins by educating businesses on how to responsibly advertise and view dolphins, while teaching the public how they can responsibly view dolphins in the wild.
Harassment of dolphins is illegal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and includes any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance that has the potential to injure a marine mammal in the wild, or the potential to disturb a marine mammal in the wild, by disrupting its behavior patterns (including, but not limited to, feeding, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering). The SMART acronym stands for:
S: Stay back 50 yards from dolphins.
M: Move away cautiously if dolphin show signs of disturbance.
A: Always put your engine in neutral when dolphins are near.
R: Refrain from feeding, touching, or swimming with wild dolphins.
T: Teach others to be Dolphin SMART.
You can visit the Dolphin SMART program online at www.dolphinsmart.org.
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