Man convicted of harassing dolphins on a jet ski.

05/09/2006 00:00:00 December 2007. Nicol Wood, 21 years old from Banff pled guilty to ‘Recklessly disturbing or harassing a school of Bottlenose Dolphins by driving a jet ski in a reckless and erratic manner around the school.’ This is the first ever conviction for this type of offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. The incident took place in June 2006 in Faw Bay just off the coast from MacDuff. Dave MacKinnon, Force 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 activity of a jet ski being driven recklessly around them is likely to have led to them being disturbed.

Wildlife Crime investigation is not all about getting people to court and convictions but education of the public and awareness raising. 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.’