Tourists might want to get close, but the law requires boats to not move any closer than 200 metres from killer whales. These are just some of the legal requirements being stressed by 4VI, formerly Tourism Vancouver Island, along with the Marine Education and Research Society and the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association in a new awareness campaign focused on responsible marine mammal viewing. Brian Cant, 4VI's vice-president of business impact and engagement, said marine mammals will swim where they want, and sometimes this gives tourists beautiful close-up video and photographs – but it shouldn't be considered a common occurrence.
In fact, he refers to it as a "once in-a-lifetime experience." The majority of these encounters will be at least 100 to 400 metres, depending on the species of marine mammal and if they are with calves. “Marine ecotourism standards in British Columbia are already some of the highest in the world, with operators adhering to strict minimum distance regulations meant to reduce disturbances to wildlife," Cant said in a press release.
“However, we still see examples of photos and videos being shared on social media that show close encounters with marine mammals. Our goal is to ensure that visitors are provided with accurate information about safe distances and expectations for guests, without putting wildlife or humans at risk." To counteract the potential for misinformation from these close-encounter images, the campaign includes a .