Two people convicted after UK dolphin death
Two people have been ordered to take part in ‘restorative justice’ following the death of a wild dolphin off the coat of Cornwall, UK in 2013.
The young dolphin was swimming with a pod near Padstow when up to 25 small boats began harassing them off Daymer Bay last July. Some of the boats drove straight through the pod, and very soon after a dead dolphin was found at the scene.
A reward for more information was offered at the time and police officers from the Wildlife Crime Unit in North Cornwall have now said that their investigation has concluded and two boat skippers have been identified and charged with offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – which carry a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/ or a £5,000 fine.
The Restorative Justice a scheme means that each offender will now complete a wildlife safety course which teaches boat users how to view marine wildlife safely, responsibly and within the law.
