Dolphins
For generations, our bays have served as crucial nurseries for dolphins, providing shelter, food and a safe place to birth and raise calves. They are commonly seen in groups or pods, containing anything from two or three individuals to more than a thousand.
Dolphins are curious and may approach you. If they do, slow down and enjoy the experience, but remember they are wild animals and need to be treated with caution.
How close can I get to a dolphin?
When dolphins feel comfortable, they will readily approach boats and swimmers, however we need to be careful about how close we get to these animals and what we do in their presence, as we can pose a risk to their health and well-being
If you are out on the bay in a boat and see dolphins, you must stay at least 100 metres away. When riding a jet ski, you must stay at least 300 metres away.
What to do if you see a dolphin in distress
Dolphins are at risk of entanglement caused by marine debris and fishing industry equipment. An entanglement emergency occurs when a free-swimming animal is confined or hindered by netting, fishing lines or other debris of human origin such as plastic strapping and sheeting. Debris that cause harm to dolphins include:
- plastic garbage
- bottles
- ropes
- derelict fishing gear
- ship-sourced, non-biodegradable floating materials.
Entanglements may cause distress, suffering, serious injury, compromised breeding success or death to the entangled animal.
Entanglements or live dolphin strandings are managed by experts using specialised equipment under the supervision of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). To report a dolphin emergency, call Wildlife Victoria's Whale and Dolphin emergency hotline on 1300 136 017 or see the Whale and Dolphin Emergency page for further details.