Man accused of following, posing with B.C. orcas, DFO investigating

Photographer TJ Campbell said he saw the orcas and rushed down to the beach to get some shots of the pod, when he noticed a man in an aluminum boat in the water near the animals.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has opened an investigation into reports of a man seen allegedly harassing orcas off the coast of Vancouver Island.

The incident happened in near Royston in Baynes Sound, between Vancouver Island and Denman Island on Monday.

Photographer TJ Campbell said he saw the orcas and rushed down to the beach in the hopes of getting some shots of the pod, when he noticed a man in an aluminum boat in the water near the animals.

“I didn’t think much of it because, you know, sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time … but then as the orcas kind of pass by, he started up his engine again and and drove right to the middle of them again,” Campbell said.

“He brings out his fishing rod, whether it was just to get photos, trying to look like he’s catching the orca, I don’t know … then, you know, he just kept driving in between them and then trying to touch them.”

Campbell said the orcas, which had a calf with them, appeared none too pleased about the interactions, and eventually started slapping their tails at him.

Every time the pod moved away, the man would start his boat up and approach once again, Campbell said.

While it’s not clear what kind of orcas are seen in the photos, the waters are known to be frequented by British Columbia’s critically endangered southern resident killer whales, who numbered just 73 as of February.