Fin cutting is common... A dolphin on a tourist boat even had its rostrum cut off

Injured Southern Bottlenose Dolphins in Jeju Coastal Waters
Feeding Difficulties Threaten Population Numbers

A Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin with a bluntly cut fin and snout was spotted off the coast of Seogwipo, Jeju.

While dolphins with damaged dorsal fins have been frequently observed, it is unusual to see a dolphin with a cut snout. It is presumed to have been severed by a dolphin tour vessel.

A southern bottlenose dolphin with its rostrum and dorsal fin cut off is swimming around a dolphin tour boat in the sea off Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to Yonhap News on the 17th, around 10 a.m., dozens of endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins were hunting or swimming in groups off Yeongnak-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo City.

Soon after, a dolphin tour boat equipped with a high-performance engine carrying about 10 tourists began to rapidly approach the dolphin group. The tour boat near the dolphins slowed down and continued to chase the moving group.

On the morning of the 16th, a southern bottlenose dolphin with a damaged dorsal fin was hunting with its group off the coast of Sindo-ri, Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

When the group moved slowly, the tour boat stopped at a distance of just about 10 meters. At that moment, an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin surfaced. Its snout and fin were cut off, and the particularly blunt snout showed fresh red wounds, suggesting the injury was recent. It is presumed to have been cut by a sharp metallic ship propeller.

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is a marine mammal observed year-round along the coast of Jeju Island, with an estimated population of about 110 individuals. As the population gradually declined, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries designated the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin as a marine protected species in 2012.

Increase in Dolphin Tour Boats Raises Safety Threats to Dolphins

On the morning of the 16th, a tourist fishing boat was overtaking a pod of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins off the coast of Jagunae Port, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju City. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, as dolphin tour boats have increased in Jeju, incidents threatening dolphin safety have been reported frequently.

Currently, there are six tour boat companies advertising Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin tours in Jeju, and passenger and ferry boats for tourism purposes are reportedly able to operate dolphin tours without any restrictions. Experience fishing boats are also effectively conducting dolphin observation tours but are excluded from educational programs aimed at dolphin protection for businesses.

Some tour boats are known to surround dolphin groups with multiple vessels to observe them. When tour boats approach dolphin groups, it causes stress and deprives dolphins of time for feeding, resting, and social activities, posing a significant threat to them.

Meanwhile, last year, the amendment to the "Marine Ecosystem Conservation and Management Act (Marine Ecosystem Act)" passed the National Assembly, allowing fines of up to 2 million KRW for violations of observation guidelines. The law will take effect on the 19th of this month.

The marine environmental protection organization Hot Pink Dolphins stated, "A fine of less than 2 million KRW is insufficient to regulate companies," and argued, "Stronger protective measures are needed, such as suspending operations of repeatedly violating companies, designating no-approach zones for tour boats and marine protected areas, enacting a Marine Mammal Protection Act, and introducing an ecological corporation system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.