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The owner of a cruise boat and a dock master team up to save a dolphin struggling in the city marina's South Basin.
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 16, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG -- John Heinz, a city marina dock master, watches every day for the rollicking dolphins that sometimes glide right up the waterways where the boats are tied.
Last week, he helped rescue one of his favorite creatures, probably saving its life.
A mature adult, it had gotten tangled in a crab trap line and appeared to be exhausted after struggling to shake free.
"He was almost dead. He would have drowned," said Fred DeBardelaben, owner of the Pier-based Dolphin Queen cruise boat. DeBardelaben had a load of tourists aboard, but maneuvered his craft to aid in the rescue.
Heinz heard about the marine mammal's plight about 4:30 p.m. He was on the end of a communications chain that carried the dolphin-in-distress alarm.
Estimated as between 6 and 8 feet, the dolphin had been spied in the marina's South Basin, between Demens Landing and Albert Whitted Airport.
Heinz, who spent 23 years in the Coast Guard before coming to the marina two years ago, motored to the scene in a 16-foot outboard.
The trap line had gotten wrapped around the dolphin's tail, Heinz said, probably farther out in Tampa Bay. He speculated the creature had battled toward shallower water, hoping to shake the line.
Dolphins are regular residents, living in Tampa Bay year-around.
"The poor thing was so tired, when we started pulling on the line, his body went limp," Heinz said. "It was like he knew what we were doing."
DeBardelaben, 59, clambered from the Dolphin Queen into Heinz's runabout, carrying a long boat hook. The skipper snagged the line and Heinz grabbed the floating ball that marks a trap's location.
The dolphin was in an upright position, using its pectoral fins to push up for a breath of air, DeBardelaben said. It was clearly having trouble, probably in oxygen debt, he said. As a mammal, dolphins have to surface periodically to breath.
"I would have my hands full if Fred hadn't been there," Heinz said.
Heinz had his hands full anyway.
Leaning over the gunwale, thrusting his arms in the water up to his shoulders, Heinz, 55, hauled on the line and managed to grab the tail. He already had his Oldtimer pocketknife in hand, finagling so he wouldn't drop anything. He cut away two pieces of line with a three-inch blade. The dolphin drifted away.
"He rolled a little, like he was looking," Heinz said. "I had a feeling that was absolutely fantastic."
DeBardelaben felt good about the deed, too, though he said he previously has rescued dolphins caught in nets or lines. He said he has had a long seagoing career, sailing around the world and living in far-flung spots.
His Dolphin Queen tours leave the Pier four times a day, specifically to spy dolphins. He estimated the one he and Heinz rescued weighed 500 pounds.
As far as Heinz and DeBardelaben know, the dolphin survived. After being cut free, it began swimming away, though sluggishly, Heinz said.
While conducting his last tour trip Monday, DeBardelaben saw a pod of four dolphins moving into the marina.
He speculated the mammals were coming to collect their lost member, perhaps having heard signals that carry underwater.