Biologist pleads guilty to feeding killer whales in Monterey Bay

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-biologist-pleads-guilty-feeding-killer-whales-20140114,0,5625272.story





A prominent marine biologist was fined $12,500 and placed on three years probation for feeding killer whales in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

In exchange, Nancy Black -- whose work has appeared on PBS, National Geographic and Animal Planet -- pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and agreed to serve 300 hours of community service. Federal prosecutors accused her of using chunks of gray whale blubber to draw orcas closer to her research vessel for filming in 2004 and 2005.

Black had faced a maximum $100,000 fine and one year in prison, according to her plea agreement, in which she admitted to offering food to the orcas, "specifically chunks of gray whale blubber."

Investigators built their case on footage shot by famed oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, whose crew also attempted to lure the orcas during the feeding in April 2004. Federal prosecutors forced him to forfeit his vessel, the Manfish, alleging that, like Black, his crew also threaded gray whale blubber on ropes to draw the orcas closer.



For some reason, charges were not placed again Cousteau.

http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_24260396/cousteau-hands-over-boat-settle-whale-chumming-case