Jet skier who disturbed dolphins warned by police

Intentionally and recklessly disturbing dolphins, porpoises, whales and basking sharks is illegal, police say

A man who used his jet ski to disturb a pod of dolphins off the Cornwall coast has been given a police warning.

The dolphins had been swimming in St Austell Bay when the incident took place in June.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the man was seen to deliberately approach the dolphins and encouraged others to do the same.

Sgt Martin Easter said the man, from Cornwall, "had no regard for the dolphins or how his deliberate behaviour could cause a disturbance, even hailing for more people to come over and join him in doing so".

The man has been given a community protection warning, which sets out a number of conditions he must follow.

These include not following or pursuing any marine wildlife in any watercraft.

Sgt Easter said Cornwall was "lucky to have a vast amount of wildlife across the bays", and, while sightings of these animals were exciting, "it's important we respect their space".

"Our ask is that people enjoy our waters, but to make sure they do so safely and responsibly," he added.

People should try to stay at least 100m (330 ft) away from marine mammals while in the ocean, the force said.

It added if this was not possible, they should leave as much space as they could.

Intentionally and recklessly disturbing dolphins, porpoises, whales and basking sharks is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

A breach of the police warning could result in further prosecution under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.