The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has issued a stark warning to the public to keep away from an injured dolphin spotted off the Dorset coast. The lone bottlenose dolphin, nicknamed Reggie, has been seen in Lyme Bay with a visible gash on the right side of its torso beneath its dorsal fin, believed to be caused by a boat propeller.
Reggie was filmed in early August appearing to dance and play with a family who were swimming in the bay. The viral clip showed the dolphin bobbing in and out of the water, engaging with Lynda MacDonald, her partner, her son and his girlfriend, and even receiving belly rubs. Despite the seemingly jovial encounter, the MMO has stressed that such interactions can cause harm.
The agency said human contact can cause dolphins to lose their natural wariness, leading to injury or even death. It also noted that disturbed dolphins are known to become aggressive towards people. “Dolphins may seem friendly, but they are wild animals,” the MMO stated, urging the public never to swim with, touch, feed, or approach dolphins, and to calmly leave the area if a dolphin approaches.
The MMO expressed increasing concern after multiple potential marine wildlife disturbance offences were observed online. It emphasised that the dolphin in Lyme Bay has already been injured by a suspected boat propeller, and asked the public to share the message to respect the animal’s space.
The charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) advises that dolphins can be disturbed not only by jetskis and motorboats but also by any intrusive human interaction. They recommend keeping a safe distance, leaving after about 15 minutes, and ensuring no more than two boats are within 300 metres of a group of dolphins.
According to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 28 different species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded in UK waters, including four types of dolphin: bottlenose, common, Risso’s and white-beaked. An estimated 700 bottlenose dolphins live off the UK’s shores, and encounters with swimmers or sailers are relatively common.
