Stranded dolphins draw crowds in Lameque, New Brunswick

Marine Animal Response Society staff hope to use "acoustic pingers" to herd six dolphins stranded near Lameque, N.B., out of the shallow harbour and back into the ocean.

The devices scare dolphins away from an area. The organization is in the process of transporting the devices to the site, to hang over the side of boats that will direct the dolphins to safety.

"Here in Lameque, this is the first time I ever saw dolphins here," said Eddie Downing, who came to watch the mammals from the bridge in the middle of town Monday evening.

Crowds of people have been gathering at the bridge since last Wednesday to see the dolphins.

Department ofFisheries and Oceans officers have been monitoring theanimals since Wednesday. One of the dolphinsdied late last week.

'They're stuck'

"I don't know why they're here. I don't know why they came in shallow water like this. But probably they're stuck here because it's not easy to go on the deep sea, on the other side," said Downing.

DFO officials believe high tides allowed the dolphins into the harbour. When the tidereceded and water levels fell, the animals were unable to leave the area and stayed put. Attempts were made Thursday to reroute the group into open water, but crews were unsuccessful.

Au P'tit Mousse, a seafood restaurant in Lameque, has been busy since the weekend as people from across the Acadian Peninsula flock to the town to catch a glimpse of the dolphins surfacing near the bridge.

Do not approach

Atlantic white-sided dolphins are common to the areabut are rarely seen for such extended periods of time in the shallow harbour.

In an e-mail statement, Department of Fisheries and Oceansofficials warn the public to stay away from the dolphins as it could cause them further stress. It is illegal under the Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act to disturb a marine mammal.