After a Bottlenose dolphin was found on a New York beach with its fins and tail removed, a federal investiagtion has been launched.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service on Wednesday said its Office of Law Enforcement is investigating after the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society reported finding the mutilated dolphin on the west side of Beach 8th Street in Far Rockaway in Queens on May 27.
The dolphin's dorsal fin, a pectoral fin, and tail had been removed.
During the course of their investigation, the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation learned that there may be a video documenting the dismemberment of the dolphin.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act not only prohibits the possession of a marine mammal, but also the possession of any part from a marine mammal, even if those parts were taken after the animal died, the NOAA said. Bottlenose dolphins are protected under the MMPA.
Violations of the MMPA are punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to 1 year in jail per violation.
The agency is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty in the case.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. Tips can be left anonymously, but a name and contact information are required to claim the reward.
\--with reporting by TMX
