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B.C. Jet Skier Fined $5,000 for Approaching Dolphins in First Marine Mammal Approach Conviction

It marks Canada’s first conviction under marine mammal approach rules, featuring a six-month vessel ban, a prohibition on marine mammal social media posts.

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The Provincial court insignia behind the bench in a courtroom

Overview

  • In August 2022, Stephen Michael White sped a jet ski within a few feet of Pacific white-sided dolphins off Port McNeill while filming them on his cell phone, far inside the 100-metre legal limit.
  • Campbell River Provincial Court found his conduct negligent and reckless, resulting in a November 2024 guilty verdict under Section 7(1) of the Marine Mammal Regulations.
  • On May 22, 2025, the court ordered White to pay a $5,000 fine linked to the breach of Canada’s approach distance requirements.
  • The ruling establishes a legal precedent designed to deter similar disturbances and bolster enforcement of federal marine wildlife protections.
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada warns that close vessel encounters can disrupt dolphins’ echolocation, threatening their navigation, communication and overall well-being.