A group of swimmers have been accused of harassing a pod of dolphins off the coast of Hawaii.

The swimmers, 33 in total, encountered the dolphins in Hōnaunau Bay on Sunday, and authorities say they broke a federal law which makes it illegal to swim within 50 yards (45 meters) of spinner dolphins in Hawaii’s waters.

The law is in place to ensure the nocturnal dolphins get enough rest during the day, but drone footage of the incident shows the swimmers clearly chasing the animals, who are trying to swim away from them.

Hawaii authorities were waiting for the group when they returned to land, and they are now under investigation.

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