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TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Dolphins Spotted In Huntington Waters
At least 100 Bottlenose seen swimming
westward through the Long Island Sound
By Mike Koehler/mkoehler@longislandernews.com
Marine experts said they arent exactly sure
why dolphins appeared in Huntington Harbor and other Long Island
waters, nor do they know if theyve already left.
Garry Sherman, a Melville waste metal business owner, was one of
many who spotted a pod of Bottlenose dolphins in Huntington Harbor
and Huntington Bay last Friday.
Kim Durham, Rescue Program director for the Riverhead Foundation,
confirmed that reports about at least 100 dolphins came in late
Thursday morning. Members of the non-profit joined Coast Guardsmen
on the water, identifying them before a severe thunderstorm chased
them inland.
We observed feeding behavior. We also documented young calves,
Durham said.
Feeding is also the top theory among Long Islands marine experts
why the dolphins showed up here. Stony Brook University Professor
Bill Wise said he believes theyre following schools of Menhaden,
known colloquially as moss bunker, squid or Herring.
Baitfish have been reported throughout the area, Durham said, and
the dolphins have been seen feasting on them.
Bottlenose dolphins eat about five percent of their weight every
day, Wise said. An average adult Bottlenose can weight 750 pounds,
and consume more than 35 pounds of fish daily.
By Saturday, reports came into the Foundation that the Bottlenose
pod had moved further west along the Long Island Sound into Hempstead
Harbor. Foundation members joined the Port Washington Bay Constable
on the water again, Durham said, and this time were able to record
the animals.
We used a hydrophone and we were able to hear the vocalizations.
They were whistling and clicking. Our goal was to videotape their
behaviors and record any acoustic material we could, she said.
The dolphins apparently chased the baitfish further west during
the night; New York Harbor Patrol reported seeing them in the East
River on Sunday.
A Foundation biologist took to the skies on Monday in an unsuccessful
attempt to track the Bottlenose down again. However, the non-profit
received oral reports of 50 dolphins swimming west and eating baitfish
in the Atlantic Ocean near Sagaponack. Durham said no visual proof
was submitted, and the Foundation cant even identify which
type of dolphin may have been present.
We dont know if the animals moved off-shore or are coming
back, Durham said. I dont know about the baitfish.
Anybody who sees a dolphin is asked to call the Foundation at 631-369-9829.
Not endangered per se, Bottlenose dolphins remain protected by the
federal government in all American waters. Hunting and harassing
these dolphins is illegal, although Durham warned that feeding,
swimming with and chasing them can constitute harassment.
It is against the law to do a lot of things with these animals,
she said, adding that the Coast Guard issued warnings while the
dolphins were around last week.
But boaters, fisherman and onlookers have largely not interfered
with the animals. Durham said a commercial fishing boat stopped
work when the dolphins approached in Huntington Harbor, and law
enforcement in Nassau and New York City didnt report any problems.
On the other hand, the dolphins were not likely interfering with
North Shore fisherman. In fact, Wise said they were feeding on Menhaden
and Herring in the western portion of the Long Island Sound, which
is restricted to fishing.
Even if theyre chasing squid back up the western sound,
theyre not interfering with commercial fishing activities,
Wise said. I think the impact is probably minimal.
Recreational fishermen are also unlikely to be impacted by the dolphins
presence. Menhaden and squid are commonly used for bait, and theres
no lack of them in Long Island waters.
Wise also said that the presence of dolphins would not scare away
Striped Bass or other local fish larger than the baitfish, nor would
their feeding attract additional game fish.
People might suggest that this is going to scare fish away
or that its going to be a bonanza because there will be a
lot stunned or torn up bait fish, he said.
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