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The Spanish aren't the only ones who enjoy a siesta - dolphins also benefit from a spot of lunch-time relaxation.
The Department of Conservation is asking boaties and swimmers to give dolphins a lunch break so they don't become stressed during the summer holidays.
"Marine mammals deserve time
out too, and lunchtime's the right time to let them float free," said DoC's Bay of Islands marine mammals ranger, Elke Reufels.
She asked boaties and swimmers to remember dolphins were wild animals and too much interference could be harmful.
"They do need time out from people, and the chance to rest," she said. "It's been shown that if dolphins aren't allowed to simply be themselves, they don't have time to teach their young how to look for food, or how to behave, so their whole lifestyle is affected."
She said people should leave the dolphins alone between 11.30am and 1pm so they could feed and rest.
"If they stop resting - which is what happens if they have to remain aware of boats all the time - they get tired, their whole health deteriorates and reproduction rates can decline."
She said DoC rangers would be out on boats in the Bay of Islands during the summer to answer questions and ensure people were sticking to the rules.
The DoC visitor centre at Russell was also available for advice.
The department does not want a repeat of an accident two years ago, when a 300kg dolphin leaped into the air as the pod moved closer while feeding and landed on top of Kelly James, who was sitting on the bow of a friend's boat.
Westpac Trust Rescue Helicopter advanced paramedic Chris Deacon, who was credited with saving the seriously injured woman's life, said dolphins should never be underestimated.
"We have a lot of romantic notions about dolphins but they are still wild animals out there hunting for their food."
The dolphin code
* Leave dolphins to rest between 11.30am and 1pm.
* Boats should approach dolphins slowly from behind and to one side.
* Never drive through a pod of dolphins or cut them off.
* Boat speed should be less than five knots.
* If there are three boats within 300m of a pod, wait until one leaves.
* Keep visit short to give others the chance to interact with the dolphins without tiring them.
* If you see dolphins bunching together, speeding up, tail-slapping or deep-diving they are getting stressed and it's time to leave.
* Swimming with calves or juvenile dolphins (those less than two-thirds the length of adults) is not permitted.
