The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of a juvenile dolphin last month.

According to a release from NOAA, a member of the public reported a dead bottlenose dolphin to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline. The dolphin was found on West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish, along the western coast of Louisiana.

The juvenile dolphin had injuries consistent with being shot. The Audubon Aquarium Rescue recovered the body and transported it to the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans for a necropsy.

The necropsy found multiple bullets lodged in the dolphin’s body, including in the brain, spinal cord and heart, NOAA said.

The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted in 1972 and enforced by NOAA, prohibits the killing of marine mammals in U.S. waters and is punishable by up to a year in prison and fines up to $100,000.

NOAA is asking anyone with information on this case to contact the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964. Tips may be left anonymously, but only those who leave their name and contact information would be eligible for the $20,000.

NOAA is looking for information leading to:

• Successful identification and/or
• Successful prosecution for the person(s) responsible
• Arrest, conviction, or civil penalty assessment

Stranded or injured marine mammals should be reported to the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 877-942-5243.