Jet skis ‘cowboys’ chase dolphins on Wallis Lake at Forster Tuncurry

Jet ski riders have been driving authorities “nuts” and putting dolphins under extreme stress at a Mid-North Coast holiday town in NSW.

A jet ski coming past the Forster Breakwall with the Tuncurry Rock Pool in the background. Picture: Janine Watson.

Jet ski riders have been driving authorities “nuts” and putting dolphins under extreme stress in the popular tourist twin-towns of Forster and Tuncurry during the summer holidays.

They have been reported driving dangerously close to the sea mammals and herding them up for “fun”.

One expert says jet ski riders have been known to herd up dolphins to get selfies and videos to share on social media.

Peter Mooney was operating the Surf Life Saving NSW shark surveillance drone on the Forster side of the breakwall earlier this week.

“The jet skis are driving us nuts, going around and around and getting close to dolphins - people get very upset about that,” Mr Mooney said.

Shark surveillance drone operator Peter Mooney. Picture: Janine Watson.

Dolphins are often seen from the long span Forster Tuncurry bridge in the crystal clear waters of Wallis Lake or from one of a number of dolphin watch cruise boats.

There are dolphin logos all over businesses and buildings in the two towns as locals are passionate and protective of the creatures important to the region’s identity.

Dennis Travers, from Forster Tuncurry Marine Rescue NSW, is also frustrated with reckless behaviour from jet ski “cowboys”.

“Cowboys get out there and think it’s great fun trying to herd up dolphins. You can get four or five jet skis chasing them.

“I don’t know why they do it, you don’t have to go far and they will soon be around you.”

Dennis Travers from Forster Tuncurry Marine Rescue. Picture: Janine Watson

Mr Travers said the behaviour was hard to police.

“It gets people really upset,” he said

“And by the time you ring somebody about it, they’re gone; it’s very frustrating.”

Jools Farrell, from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia, said the behaviour could have a “huge impact” on dolphins.

She said the mammals were particularly vulnerable because jet skis made less underwater noise than other craft and the dolphins had little warning.

Jet skis out in force on Wallis Lake between the Forster and Tuncurry breakwalls. Picture: Janine Watson.

“We’ve had incidents of jet skis herding up dolphins to take selfies,” Ms Farrell said.

“They are fast and erratic and more likely to collide with marine animals or causing them to go closer to shore and become stranded.

“If a calf is separated from its mother, that can also have a devastating impact.”

NSW Government regulations state ‘prohibited vehicles’ (prohibited for whale or dolphin watching) including jet skis must not go closer than 300m to dolphins, whales and dugongs

Ms Farrell said the National Parks and Wildlife Service was the responsible agency and urged people to take videos wherever possible to help with investigations that could lead to hefty fines.

To report incidents phone [phone] (13000 PARKS).