Enjoy dolphins from a distance
Ever wondered how close you’re allowed to get to dolphins in the Swan Canning Riverpark, Peel-Harvey Estuary, or anywhere else off the coast of WA?
In Western Australia, the law states that:
- A person in the water must maintain a separation distance of at least 50m from a dolphin.
- A person driving or in charge of a vessel ((including kayaks and sailboards) must not allow the vessel to get closer than 100m to a dolphin.
- Drones must maintain a 60m separation distance.
- Offences for disturbing a cetacean can carry a maximum fine of $500,000.
The separation distances ensure that dolphins are able to live as wild animals, free from harassment and disturbance from people, ensuring they continue to enjoy our coastal waters for future generations to observe from a safe distance.
If a dolphin approaches you in the water (including on a paddle board or other floating device), you must move away from the dolphin as soon as reasonably possible to the required separation distance.
Download our educational flyer on the distances that must be maintained and the reasons why this is important, here.
How can I get involved?
Dolphin Watch is open to anyone. A free training event is run in each region (Perth, Mandurah and Broome) annually and volunteers (Dolphin Watchers) learn how to record their observations using the Marine Fauna Sightings app on their smartphone.
Volunteers learn basic observation techniques and how to ‘observe but not disturb’, in keeping with regulations in the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016) and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations (2018) and protocols for marine mammal interaction.
Dolphin Watchers make a valuable contribution to Murdoch and Edith Cowan universities scientific research, while gaining skills and networking with others involved in caring for our marine, estuarine and freshwater river environments.
