Associated Press - March 9, 2010 8:24 AM ET

BOSTON (AP) - A Gloucester fisherman has been fined $200 after pleading guilty to striking two federally protected humpback whales with his boat.

Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Christopher Jacques was operating a tuna boat in July 2008 that was observing a large group of humpback whales on Stellwagen Bank. Authorities say witnesses on nearby whale watch boats saw Jacques navigate his vessel through the bubble clouds of feeding whales and strike two.

He was charged with violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Jacques tells The Gloucester Daily Times he was close to the whales, but did not think he struck them. He says he agreed to the deal because he could not afford a lengthy legal battle.

If convicted, he faced up to $100,000 in fines and a year in jail.

Information from: Gloucester Daily Times, http://www.gloucestertimes.com

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