Last Sunday, DOCARE officers initiated cases against a group of swimmers actively pursuing a pod of dolphins in Hōnaunau Bay during a routine patrol.

Drone video and photographs show the swimmers appearing to pursue, corral, and harass the dolphins. The officers contacted the group of 33 in the water and alerted them to the violation. They were met by uniformed officers on land, where a joint investigation was initiated by DOCARE and the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE). 

Under the Joint Enforcement Agreement with the DLNR, DOCARE Officers are deputized as federal officers and are authorized to enforce federal marine laws, such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Cases like these are worked jointly and are referred to OLE for review and final disposition. 

DLNR Photo