WDCS, in partnership with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and the Florida-based Dolphin Ecology Project (DEP), has been awarded a grant to further dolphin conservation and protection in the Florida Keys. As one of four recipients of the “Protect Wild Dolphins” Grant dispersed through the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and focused on projects contributing to the conservation of wild dolphins in Florida, WDCS is helping to develop an innovative and positive approach to reduce dolphin harassment through collaboration with dolphin tour operators and the institution of a voluntary education program involving scientific research, adherence to codes of conduct and recognition for best practices. The DolphinSMART program was launched in the Fall of 2006.

For information about this program and the progress it is making in the protection of these dolphins, click the links below.

Grant awarded to protect dolphins in the Florida Keys Very little research has been conducted on the dolphin populations in the Keys of Florida. In recognition of this, WDCS, in partnership with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and the Florida-based Dolphin Ecology Project has been awarded a grant to further dolphin conservation and protection in the Florida Keys.

WDCS Awarded Grant As one of four recipients of the “Protect Wild Dolphins” Grant dispersed through the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and focused on projects contributing to the conservation of wild dolphins in Florida, WDCS is helping to develop an innovative and positive approach to reduce dolphin harassment through collaboration with dolphin tour operators and the institution of a voluntary education program involving scientific research, adherence to codes of conduct and recognition for best practices.

WDCS launches ‘Dolphin SMART’ program to protect wild dolphins in the Florida Keys Today, January 23, 2007, WDCS launches a new voluntary education and recognition program aimed at promoting responsible viewing of wild dolphins in the Florida Keys. Called Dolphin SMART, it is the result of a collaborative effort between WDCS, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program, NMFS, Dolphin Ecology Project, and local dolphin-watch tour operators.

Dolphin SMART Program Partners hold first training workshop in Key West. The workshop was held to present the requirements of the program to operators interested in participating, as well as providing training on regulatory laws and policies, responsible viewing and advertising, and overview of dolphin field research