The Department of Conservation (DOC) in New Zealand has restricted human interaction with wild dolphins in the Bay of Islands, banning tourists from swimming around the marine mammals and taking further measures toward keeping the dolphins safe from harm or extinction.
The DOC, eager to protect the endangered species of bottlenose dolphins, has also decreased the length of time tour boats can swim around dolphins by a third of the original allocation of 30 minutes.
Sea mammal conservation commentaries, dolphin watching and snorkeling are some eco-friendly alternative tours available in the Bay of Islands.
