A proposed ban on swimming with spinner dolphins just off the coast of the Hawaii was crafted with one thing in mind: giving the playful cetaceans the chance to get a good day's sleep.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed a ban on "swimming with and approaching a Hawaiian spinner dolphin within 50 yards by any means (vessel, person, or other object)." The ban would be in place in the waters stretching two nautical miles from the shore of Hawaii’s main islands and some other locations.

The agency says that the dolphins are being harassed during the daytime — when they typically rest — which stresses them out and hurts their health and fitness. The agency expects to hold meetings on the proposed ban next month and make a decision next year.

The idea behind the proposal is to prohibit dolphin snorkel and swimming tours from setting up shop right next to a pod of spinners and disturbing their rest.

“Those that are putting their people in the water to interact with dolphins, this would change the nature of what they're doing," Ann Garrett, assistant regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, told the Associated Press. "They could still do snorkeling for other reasons — it's just not setting their people within a pod of dolphins or within 50 yards of a dolphin."

Those opposed to the rule argue that it could seriously disrupt the tourism industry centered on near-shore dolphin encounters.

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