WELLINGTON, New Zealand (10 June 2004) -- A Wellington man has been found guilty in a landmark case of "disturbing dolphins", after repeatedly running through a pod of them in Evans Bay in a power boat. In Wellington District Court yesterday, Judge Mike Behrens, QC, found John Harold Patrick Morgan, 60, self employed contractor of Happy Valley, guilty of three charges brought under the 1978 Marine Mammals Protection Act. The Conservation Department alleged that Morgan repeatedly drove a large power boat through a pod of dolphins in Evans Bay on January 29 last year. Department lawyer Kevin Smith said it was the first successful charge involving dolphins brought under the act. Morgan pleaded not guilty, and in evidence yesterday said he was not driving the boat when it was in Evans Bay. He said he had gone for a test ride on it on behalf of a friend who wanted to buy it, and had only driven it in the main harbour. The dolphins had followed it into Evans Bay where someone else was driving. | | Maritime unit police constable Andrew Cobden-Cox said that in response to a telephone complaint he watched through binoculars as the boat went in a stop-start motion through the pod. He spoke to Morgan at Evans Bay boat ramp after the boat was hauled from the water with a truck bearing the same company name as on the business card Morgan gave him. Evans Bay resident Amanda Woodbury said the boat appeared to be hunting the dolphins as she watched for 30 minutes before calling police. Judge Behrens fined Morgan $250 on each charge, a total of $750, plus $390 court costs. SOURCE - Stuff |
