Ignore the rules...get the fines.

I can understand if someone is using a boat to get on land in Canada and lied about it, as maybe the first boat did?

But a whale watching boat? Don't those boats usually go out off shore? If the boat doesn't come onto Canadian land, I don't see the issue. Maybe it was really close to shore?

I am also thinking maybe the boat owner's / captains were not cooperating with the Canadian officials.

Odd story.