What happened to the humpback whale in the Shubenacadie River?

The humpback whale was allegedly disturbed by a Nova Scotia boat touring company called Shubie River Wranglers and its owner Emmett Blois, who are now facing charges under the Fisheries Act. The whale was later found dead, but the cause of death could not be determined.

What charges are Shubie River Wranglers and Emmett Blois facing?

Shubie River Wranglers and Emmett Blois are facing five charges under the federal Fisheries Act, including disturbing the humpback whale without proper permissions, attempting to interact with it, and trying to entice or trap the whale between vessels.

What other incident involving marine mammals has Shubie River Wranglers been involved in?

In June 2024, Shubie River Wranglers was seen on social media splashing water on a stranded minke whale until the tide rose enough for it to swim away.

Home / Environment / Boat Tour Firm Charged for Disturbing Humpback Whale in River

Boat Tour Firm Charged for Disturbing Humpback Whale in River

16 Oct

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Summary

Nova Scotia boat tour company and owner charged under Fisheries Act
Accused of disturbing, interacting with, and attempting to trap humpback whale
Whale found dead days later, cause of death unknown

In July 2024, a humpback whale was spotted alive in the Shubenacadie River in Nova Scotia. However, the boat touring company Shubie River Wranglers and its owner Emmett Blois are now facing five charges under the federal Fisheries Act for allegedly disturbing the whale.

The charges include disturbing the humpback without proper permissions, attempting to interact with it, and trying to entice or trap the whale between vessels. Authorities also accuse the company of approaching the whale within 100 meters.

Tragically, the same humpback whale was found dead near the town of Stewiacke just a few days later on July 4, 2024. The Marine Animal Response Society stated that the cause of the whale's death could not be determined, as the carcass was left in the river due to a lack of coordination among authorities to remove it and conduct a necropsy.

This is not the first time Shubie River Wranglers has faced issues related to marine mammals. In June 2024, the company's social media showed employees splashing water on a stranded minke whale until the tide rose enough for it to swim away.

The boat tour company and its owner are scheduled to appear in court on November 19, 2025 to enter their plea. If convicted, they could face fines of up to $100,000 for a summary conviction or up to $500,000 for an indictable offense under the Fisheries Act.

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