It is illegal to feed or harass wild marine mammals including dolphins, porpoises, whales, seals, sea lions, and manatees. For the health and well-being of these animals and for your safety, please do not feed, swim with, or harass these marine animals.

Why is it illegal to interact with dolphins?

Not only is it illegal, it is classified as harassment and may cause stress, injury, or even death. Feeding dolphins can cause them to depend on human food for nourishment and abandon hunting sites. Also, when wild dolphins are fed by humans frequently, they tend to lose their instinctual wariness of people.

Is it illegal to interact with a dolphin?

In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (“MMPA”) is the predominant federal law that governs swim-with dolphin encounters. ... The MMPA, as it is known, makes it a federal crime to “take” a marine mammal in U.S. waters.