Bottlenose Dolphin set free at Coffs Harbour!

Hats off to everyone involved in returning a young dolphin to the sea in Coffs Harbour recently.

The male one year old Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin was found stranded within the Coffs Harbour Marina at 5.40am on 16 November.

The dolphin was assessed as healthy for release by NPWS Marine Wildlife Team Leader and marine wildlife veterinarian, Dr Duane March.

Speaking to NBN News on the day, Dr March said his team's response to the stranding was immediate.

"We had a call this morning about 6 am from a member of the public that was walking down near the marina," Duane March from NSW Parks and Wildlife said.

"They saw a dolphin stranded, called NSW National Parks and then they coordinated the response with ORRCA and Dolphin Marine Conservation Park."

To ensure a successful release, the dolphin was transported to nearby Boambee Beach and stretchered out into waist deep water.

Dr March took a blood sample of the young dolphin, so the animal can be readily treated if stranded again, in case there was an underlying condition leading to the stranding.

The good news for this young fella is a local pod of dolphins were sighted offshore near the release site.

In recognition of the cultural significance of dolphins to the Gumbayngirr people, Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council were invited to attend and advised of the successful outcome.

Thanks to everyone involved in the successful release, including NPWS Coffs Coast Area staff, Dolphin Marine Conservation Park, ORRCA, Coffs Harbour Marina, and contractors working on the Coffs Harbour Boat Ramp.

The Partnerships to Protect Marine Wildlife project funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy aims to strengthen cross agency collaboration to respond to marine mammal strandings such as this.