Is it illegal to talk to dolphins?

There’s just something about dolphins.

Maybe it’s the way they always seem to be having a cheeky chuckle to themselves or bouncing about the waves like extra playful puppies. Whatever it is, they’re loveable enough to have generated 4m Instagram posts and more than 600k TikTok videos with the #dolphins.

Among those thousands of posts, you may come across some which make an intriguing claim - that it’s illegal for humans to talk to dolphins. Is this true, or is it a case of marine misinformation? BBC Bitesize Other Side of the Story contacted the experts to find out.

Why are people saying we can’t talk to dolphins?

Some conspiracy theories mentioned in these posts is that the law came along in 1972 to stop people learning how dolphins were used by the US military in the 1960s for secret operations. Another is that dolphins are so intelligent, they could learn to communicate in English with people and tell them what exists in the unexplored areas of the world's oceans. It sounds incredible - but that’s essentially what conspiracy theories are, they revolve around the idea that secret activities are happening behind the scenes, with governments or powerful groups trying to keep them hidden from the public.

These posts often mention the US's 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). It includes a specific section about protecting dolphins, making clear that dolphins, and other marine mammals, are not to be “harassed” in any way. Some posts have interpreted this as meaning people should not talk to any dolphins they may encounter in the wild.

What is the law in the USA about talking to dolphins?

The 1972 the MMPA was introduced to make sure that sea mammals - not just dolphins, but also whales, seals, porpoises and other creatures - were protected and not threatened by extinction.

It includes a line that people should not: "harass, hunt, capture or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture or kill any marine mammal."

The posts on socials about talking to dolphins seem to be a misinterpretation of the wording involving dolphins being harassed. There is no specific mention of talking to them being illegal in the MMPA, though behaviour that disturbs them could still fall under the law. People are advised to keep their distance from dolphins in the wild - so it would be difficult to communicate with them in the first place.

Some posts do not believe that it is illegal to talk to dolphins and have correctly cited that MMPA guidelines are there to stop dolphins being harassed.

However, some posts on socials will deliberately spread fake news to gain followers, or paint someone the user doesn't agree with in a negative light - and not just when it comes to dolphins. This is known as disinformation.

What do the experts in the UK have to say?

It’s important to check the facts and verify any claims made on socials before you think about sharing them.

In case the laws regarding dolphins are different in the UK, we also contacted the Sussex Dolphin Project for more information. Managing director Thea Taylor said in relation to the TikTok claims: “Although greatly exaggerated - I personally don’t think dolphins are sneaking around withholding intelligence secrets! - it is true that it’s illegal to harass wild dolphins, and all marine mammals. This includes disturbing them in ways that affect their natural behaviour.”

Thea explained that the UK has something called the Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code. It advises people to keep their distance from dolphins they may encounter in the wild - usually while on a boat - and to take extra care when young animals are spotted.

It's not just dolphins which have been the subject of conspiracy theories, they can come in many different forms. Some people are convinced the Earth is flat, others believe that the moon landings in 1969 were faked and there have even been claims that the singer Avril Lavigne was replaced by a body double.

A 2025 survey found that one of the big worries for teenagers was conspiracy theories replacing facts online - which is why it is important to do your research. Have a look to see whether they are backing up their story with trustworthy evidence from a reliable source. It’s always a good sign if you can find where the news has come from and clearly see the facts behind the piece.

This article was published in April 2026

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