Florida Sheriff clarifies: No dolphins kidnapped anyone to build an underwater city

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Dolphins are back in the headlines, and this time they’re being accused of running Florida’s most bizarre “development project.”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is setting the record straight on Friday after an outlandish online rumor claimed marine mammals were behind an underwater construction operation off Florida’s coast.

The story gained traction after a widely shared social media post referenced a Florida resident who allegedly reported being “kidnapped by dolphins and forced to build an underwater city.” The Sheriff’s Office responded with a tongue-in-cheek statement, assuring residents that the region’s real estate market has not expanded below sea level.

Deputies said they consulted their fictional “Underwater Construction Investigation Team” to look into the claim. According to the agency, the dolphins that inhabit Southwest Florida’s waters “deny any involvement” in the supposed deep-sea development.

On March 6, 2026, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office playfully debunked an online rumor after a widely shared post claimed a Florida man was kidnapped by dolphins and forced to build an underwater city, prompting the agency to clarify—humorously—that no such deep‑sea development exists in Lee County. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office){ }

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While the rumor sparked plenty of online laughs, the sheriff’s office emphasized that the situation is purely humorous. The agency added in a playful disclaimer:

No dolphins were harmed in the making of this rumor.”

The department frequently uses lighthearted posts to engage with the community, blending local flavor with coastal humor. In this case, officials say the only thing underwater in Lee County is the usual mix of fish, shells, and sea life—not construction crews or ocean-dwelling architects.

Despite the viral nature of the claim, authorities say there is no evidence of any underwater city, planned or otherwise. As of now, the real estate market remains firmly on dry land.