Scientists searching for oil spill damage in Gulf of Mexico end up killing three dolphins

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says federal scientists catching fish to test for possible damage from last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill accidentally drowned three dolphins.

Spokeswoman Connie Barclay says the pantropical spotted dolphins were caught Wednesday from a trawl off the research ship Pisces, which works out of Pascagoula, Miss.

She said Friday that NOAA will investigate whether all proper procedures were followed.

Barclay said nobody knows just when the dolphins got trapped. She says the trawl was below 100 meters, with a target depth of 700 meters. (read more)