Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce our recent publication in Journal of Cetacean Research and Management titled,  Sixteen years later: an updated evaluation of the impacts of chronic human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) at Panama City, Florida, USA.   

Our observations indicate that harassment of bottlenose dolphins in Panama City, Florida has escalated: dolphins are being actively provisioned, often for long periods of time; the proportion of conditioned dolphins has increased; interacting dolphins and humans are both at increased risk for injury, illness, or death; and conditioned dolphin activity budgets and movement patterns continue to be negatively impacted by human behaviour.

To learn more details about this study, you may access the full publication here:  https://archive.iwc.int/?r=7931  

Citation:
Powell, J.R., Machernis, A.F., Engleby, L.K., Farmer, N.A. and Spradlin, T.R. 2018. Sixteen years later: an updated evaluation of the impacts of chronic human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) at Panama City, Florida, USA. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 19: 79-93.  

Best,
Jessica
Jessica R. Powell, M.S.
Biologist
National Marine Fisheries Service,
Southeast Regional Office
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
727-824-5327
jessica.powell@noaa.gov