OAK HILL -- Discarded fishing line was removed from a bottle-nose dolphin Tuesday after the mammal was observed swimming in the Indian River Lagoon near Oak Hill with the line cutting into its dorsal fin, authorities said.
This was the second time in 18 months that the sea mammal dubbed "Rio" had been freed of discarded fishing line, said an official with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
A team with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Network team removed the fishing line after it was determined to be life threatening. The dolphin was fitted with a radio tag so that his movements a be tracked in case he gets into trouble again.
Stranding Network team members are asking the public to be aware of the dolphins and report any trouble they may find themselves in such as tangled fishing lines or other hazards by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-3922.