“aggressive” harassment incident dolphins a group of dozens of tourists explore Hawaiian authorities.

Swimming with dolphins is a popular tourist activity in Hawaii, but federal law prohibits swimming closer than 150 feet.

However, during a routine inspection on Sunday, authorities spotted 33 tourists swimming in Honaunau Bay obsessively chasing a pod of dolphins.

As shown in a related video released by the Hawaii Department of Natural Resources, swimmers move towards the dolphins while they are constantly moving away.

Hawaii authorities said on Tuesday that a pod of wild dolphins near the Big Island was allegedly being chased by a group of 33 swimmers.

Federal law prohibits swimming within 50 yards of spinner dolphins in Hawaii’s coastal waters. https://t.co/ogbrF9ZLVp pic.twitter.com/iToFdB5hEp

— Associated Press (@AP) March 29, 2023

According to the same service, “swimmers aggressively pursue, surround and pursue the flock.”

Swimmers have been notified by the authorities while in the waterthat they violated federal law. And when they were already on the shore, people in uniform approached them and informed them of the illegality of their actions.

A joint federal and state investigation into the incident is currently underway.

It is noted that the federal law went into effect in 2021 to protect dolphins during the day and ensure that they “return freely to their resting environment,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

The law applies to spinner dolphins within 2 nautical miles (4 km) of the coast of Hawaii, as well as boats, canoes, kayaks and drones.

Dolphins are nocturnal creatures that feed at night and rest and socialize during the day. On the other hand, long-billed spinner dolphins get their name from their habit of jumping out of the water and spinning, which is why they are used in acrobatic shows.

Source: BBC