WDC and Partners will hold two training workshops for dolphin tour operators interested in participating in the Dolphin SMART program, and will include presentations on local dolphin research.
Training sessions will be held in the following locations:
February 21, 2013-Clearwater, Florida
Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way, Clearwater, FL 33757
8AM-12PM
February 25, 2013-Ft. Meyers, Florida
Lee County Parks and Recreation Support Services Facility
6490 South Pointe Blvd.
Ft. Meyers, FL 33919
12PM-4PM
In addition, other businesses are invited to attend the training workshop to learn more about the ‘Proud Supporter’ component of the Program. ‘Proud Supporters’ can be a company or organization that promotes dolphin viewing tours or responsible viewing of wild dolphins but is not eligible to participate in the Dolphin SMART program as an operator (i.e. commercial businesses that solely or opportunistically view wild dolphins).
Examples of companies or organizations that might be interested in participating in the ‘Proud Supporter’ campaign include commercial businesses who offer services operating in and around dolphin habitat, such as marinas, fishing piers or waterfront restaurants. Travel consultants or booking agents, non-profit organizations and the media are other entities that would benefit from a partnership with Dolphin SMART.
WDC partnered with NOAA’s Fisheries Service, National Marine Sanctuary Program and Dolphin Ecology Project to establish the Dolphin SMART Program in Key West, Florida, in 2007 through funding support from NOAA Fisheries and “Protect Wild Dolphins” license plate through Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. The founding sponsors continue to expand the program in other areas of Florida and the southeast United States, including Alabama and Hawaii.
The acronym “SMART” is a reminder of the basic principles of dolphin viewing etiquette:
• Stay at least 50 yards from dolphins
• Move away slowly if the dolphins show signs of disturbance
• Always put your vessel engine in neutral when dolphins are near
• Refrain from feeding, touching or swimming with wild dolphins
• Teach others to be Dolphin SMART.
For more information about Dolphin SMART, visit www.dolphinsmart.org,