"SELFISH" speedboaters have been slammed for appearing to drive their vessel towards a group of dolphins after an eyewitness captured shocking footage of the incident.
Video footage published by the Greenock Telegraph shows a small speedboat circling a group of dolphins on the Clyde before the vehicle hurtles straight towards the marine mammals.
The animals can be seen diving under the water as the boat passes near to where they were.
The footage was captured by an eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous.
They said: “It was the first time I had managed to see the dolphins and I was really excited about it so I got the camera out on multiple stops on the Esplanade and caught them a few times and a few different ones as well.
“Further upriver they got closer to Ocean Terminal and this speedboat was hanging about with three people in it.
“Whenever the dolphins surfaced they raced to where they were.
“Obviously on their approach the dolphins would submerge and were coming up less frequently.
“At first I was more annoyed than anything else as they were stopping them from surfacing but they weren't too close to them, but then the boat started chasing them and going over the top of where they were then circling where they had been and whenever they surfaced again they sped over again.
“They're inconsiderate, if the animals and all the other people around trying to enjoy them.
“It’s selfish, they were scaring the animals for their own entertainment.”
The emergence of the footage comes after police issued an appeal for information following reports of dolphins and whales being disturbed in the waters off Greenock.
Police said that last Wednesday at around June 14 a boat was seen very close to a pod of dolphins which included a young calf.
They also confirmed that on June 11 two jet skis were seen near a whale, which appeared to cause the animal some distress.
Police Scotland wildlife officer, police constable Jordan Edwards, said: “Following these reports enquiries are being carried out and I would like to remind people that it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to intentionally or recklessly disturb or harass these protected species.
“Dolphins, whales, seals and porpoises are a wonderful site off our coasts but they can easily be disturbed and should not be closely approached or chased.
“If you are out on the water and lucky enough to see them, the best approach is to keep your distance, slow down if you are in a boat or on jet skis and if the animals come close then do not make any sudden changes in your speed or direction of travel.
“If you witness a wildlife disturbance or have any concerns about this type of incident then please contact us.”
Anyone with information relating to the incidents mentioned should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3714 of Wednesday, 14 June, 2023.
