Fisheries and Oceans Canada is investigating after videos showing a boat getting close to a pod of orcas off Campbell River were posted online this week.
"They were following and harassing the orcas," Ruegsegger told CTV News.Ruegsegger, who works for a water taxi that does wildlife tours, said the boat operator disturbed the whales for close to two hours.
Jackie Hildering, communications director for the Marine Education Research Society, says the videos are an example of what not to do when encountering whales. She says boaters need to know and follow the rules. If the DFO finds the boater violated these rules, the fines could be significant, Hildering said, noting a recent case that resulted in a $12,000 penalty."The awareness that this brings to what the regulations are – or even that there are regulations – and why those exist and why there is this outrage …There is this understanding that this constitutes disturbance," Hildering said.
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