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A NEW bid to ban jet skis from the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary has been launched, following reports of watercraft users harassing dolphins in the Port River.

Volunteers from Port River Dolphin Watch have started a petition, so far signed by 250 people, which calls on the State Government to ban jet skis from the waters around Garden Island.

Co-founder Jenni Wyrsta saw a jet skier running circles around a pod of three dolphins near the Torrens Island bridge last week.

“I could see the dolphins were visibly distressed,” she said.

“They were diving and trying to get away from him.

“When he left, the dolphins just took off, deep-dived and came back up on the other side of the bridge.”

Mrs Wyrsta continued watching the dolphins until the jet skier left and reported the incident to the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.

Fellow Dolphin Watch founder Carolyn Janson, who has been urging kayakers and other river users to sign the petition, collected the 250 signatures both online and on paper in four days.

Mrs Janson said the petition was prompted by the warmer weather bringing out more jet skiers and reports of them harassing dolphins and speeding in the protected sanctuary.

“They are very noisy and dolphins are extremely sensitive to noise.

“It stresses them … and the fact so many jet skiers are totally ignorant about the dolphins and go too close doesn’t only harass them, but (they) could hit them.”

Another petition calling for a ban was started by Australian Marine and Wildlife Rescue and Research Organisation president Aaron Machado in February.

It followed reports of jet skiers harassing dolphins, speeding around pods and, in one case, attempting to land on a dolphin’s back, sparking urgent calls for action.

Representatives from the Environment and Transport departments met in April to investigate the safety of dolphins and had planned to put together a proposal in the next couple of months.

Three of the four calves born in the Port River this year have died from unknown causes, while another dolphin died from being injured by a boat propeller at Semaphore.

Adelaidenow is seeking comment from the Environment Department.