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| First dolphin jet ski man fined | First dolphin jet ski man fined |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A jet skier convicted of recklessly harassing a school of dolphins has been fined £500. | |
| Nicol Wood, 22, had earlier gone on trial over an incident with a school of bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth. | Nicol Wood, 22, had earlier gone on trial over an incident with a school of bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth. |
| However, he then offered a plea at Banff Sheriff Court and the allegation that he intentionally disturbed the dolphins was deleted. | However, he then offered a plea at Banff Sheriff Court and the allegation that he intentionally disturbed the dolphins was deleted. |
| Wood, from Banff, is believed to be the first person convicted in Scotland for such an offence. | |
| The offence - under the amended Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - happened in coastal waters about half a mile offshore at Faw Bay, Macduff, in June last year. | |
| Hopefully the conclusion to this incident will send a strong message to people who use the marine environment for their work and leisure Dave MacKinnonWildlife crime officer | |
| Dave MacKinnon, a wildlife crime officer for Grampian Police who investigated the incident, said: "I believe this is the first time a successful conviction has been achieved under the amended legislation. | Dave MacKinnon, a wildlife crime officer for Grampian Police who investigated the incident, said: "I believe this is the first time a successful conviction has been achieved under the amended legislation. |
| "The message that we want to get out is that this activity is an offence. These marine mammals are no different from other protected wildlife. In their marine environment they have to feed and look after their young. | "The message that we want to get out is that this activity is an offence. These marine mammals are no different from other protected wildlife. In their marine environment they have to feed and look after their young. |
| "The activity of a jet ski being driven around them is likely to have led to them being disturbed." | "The activity of a jet ski being driven around them is likely to have led to them being disturbed." |
| Mr MacKinnon said a key element of wildlife crime investigation was raising public awareness about animal welfare. | Mr MacKinnon said a key element of wildlife crime investigation was raising public awareness about animal welfare. |
| He said: "Hopefully the conclusion to this incident will send a strong message to people who use the marine environment for their work and leisure. | He said: "Hopefully the conclusion to this incident will send a strong message to people who use the marine environment for their work and leisure. |
| "What we ask is that people using such crafts as jet skis and speed boats do so in a responsible manner for their safety and that of others including protected wildlife." | "What we ask is that people using such crafts as jet skis and speed boats do so in a responsible manner for their safety and that of others including protected wildlife." |