A DOLPHIN that suffered horrific injuries after being hit by a boat earlier this week has been found dead at Garden Island – prompting further community outcry for more to be done to protect them.

Devastated dolphin watcher Jenni Wyrsta discovered Oriana’s body floating in the water at Garden Island about 8am yesterday.

A second dolphin, Zoom, has also been injured by a suspected speeding boat this week. He suffered cuts to his side and tail but is expected to recover.

Ms Wyrsta was first to raise the alarm about Oriana on Monday morning after finding her struggling with cuts to the right side of her dorsal fin at North Arm, where the speed limit is unlimited. Oriana lost her calf, CK, and mother, Bianca, in suspected boat strikes earlier this year.

media_camera Oriana was discovered with injuries this week. Picture: Marianna Boorman

Her death has increased pressure on Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to take action to protect dolphins from being hit by speeding boats in the Port River, where the speed limit is unlimited in some places. After hearing the heartbreaking news yesterday, Adelaide’s leading dolphin expert Dr Mike Bossley said enough was enough.

“I just can’t understand, it is just mind-boggling why they are not prepared to meet and discuss this and try and get something done,” Dr Bossley said.

Mr Knoll has been asked several times to meet Dr Bossley to discuss his proposal for a 10-knot maximum speed limit in parts of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, directly north and east of beacon 12 at Outer Harbor, which includes the Port River, Barker Inlet, North Arm and around Garden Island.

A campaign petition has been signed by more than 14,000 supporters.

media_camera Oriana with her calf Ck, who died in March. Picture: Jenni Wyrsta

Yesterday, Mr Knoll said his office was in contact with Dr Bossley and that he was happy to meet him and talk through the proposal.

“Obviously, we don’t want to see dolphins die for any reason,” Mr Knoll said.

“(The Environment Department) has confirmed that Oriana was sick for weeks before she was struck by the boat which unfortunately is likely to have been a contributing factor. There is definitely merit in what this campaign is trying to achieve, a safer environment for dolphins, and that’s an objective the State Government is working towards as well.

“We’ve already implemented a host of measures, including increased signage, speed markers and appointing an additional seven (environment department) staff to police speeding vessels.”

The speed limit in the sanctuary varies from four knots to unlimited.

media_camera Dolphin protection campaigners Jenni Wyrsta, Brett Chappell, Mike Bossley and Marianna Boorman at the Garden Island boat ramp where dolphin Oriana was found dead. Picture: Brad Fleet

Flinders Ports says a 10-knot speed limit in the Port River would not affect their operations.

Wildcatch Fisheries said many of their members, including scalefish and blue crab sectors, would be affected as it would add up to an additional half an hour to get out of the port.

Recreational fishers flag-ged safety concerns with extending any 10-knot speed limit to include waters in the open seas. Some said they were not opposed to a 10-knot limit in the Port River and Barker Inlet area

Ms Wyrsta, who spends four days a week watching over and photographing the dolphins, said she was devastated that Oriana had been killed. A necropsy will be performed on Oriana to determine her cause of death.

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