A Vancouver-based production company has received a fine of $25,000 for flying a drone too close to a group of Northern Resident Killer Whales.

Federal government department Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) disclosed Monday (Aug. 19) that it issued the $25,000 fine after River Road Films pleaded guilty to unlawfully capturing drone footage of the killer whales off of Vancouver Island in August 2021. The drone operator was fined $5,000 and the company has been prohibited from using or distributing the footage.

According to a release, the crew were found using drones and underwater cameras to capture video of the killer whales beach rubbing, a ritualistic behaviour where whales rub their bellies on beach pebbles, thought to be important for their culture and familial bonding.

Marine animals in Canada are protected by Marine Mammal Regulations under the Fisheries Act, which states a person cannot disturb marine mammals unless permitted under the Act. This includes any behaviour that could cause the mammal to move or separate from its group. According to the Act, it is illegal to fly a drone near a marine mammal below an altitude of 1,000 feet (around 304 metres) and closer than a distance of a half-nautical mile (around 926 metres).

River Road Films applied for a permit in 2020 to film protected species for a documentary. The DFO said this application was not approved.

This is a first offence for both River Road Films and the operator, and the first time a fine has been issued in Canada over the unlawful use of a drone to film killer whale footage. River Road Films had not responded to a request for comment at press time.

River Road Films is known for producing nature documentaries, such as the 2022 Emmy-winning docuseries Island of the Sea Wolves and the 2014 series Wild Canada. They have produced titles with Netflix, CBC, BBC, National Geographic and many others.

Photo: Unsplash