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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Man fined for harassing dolphins | Man fined for harassing dolphins |
| (1 day later) | |
| A man convicted of recklessly harassing a school of dolphins while on a jet ski has been fined £500. | A man convicted of recklessly harassing a school of dolphins while on a jet ski 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | "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." | "In their marine environment they have to feed and look after their young." |
| Mr MacKinnon said it was likely that they would have been disturbed in the incident and a key element of wildlife crime investigation was raising public awareness about animal welfare. | Mr MacKinnon said it was likely that they would have been disturbed in the incident and 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 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 do so in a responsible manner for their safety and that of others including protected wildlife." |