This past July, The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, former Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The new rules for whale watching and approaching marine mammals, which are now in effect, provide a minimum approach distance of 100 metres for most whales, dolphins and porpoises to legally protect these animals from human disturbances.

More information on the updated regulations can be found at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/watching-observation/index-eng.html.

As a result of these new regulations, some tourism organizations, such as Destination Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, have implemented a policy by which they will no longer share any digital content that displays vessels in motion approaching marine mammals.

Should you have any questions regarding the Marine Mammal Regulations or the new digital content policy, please contact Hospitality NL’s Manager of Policy & Communications, Melissa Ennis, at mennis@hnl.ca or 1-800-563-0700 ext. 231.