Indicted marine biologist denies feeding killer whales during research in Monterey Bay

MONTEREY, Calif. — A marine biologist under federal indictment for allegedly feeding killer whales is denying she ever fed the marine mammals during her research.

Nancy Black told The Monterey County Herald (http://bit.ly/wktlFv) that she was doing orca research in 2005 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — the agency now investigating her.

Black — who is co-owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch — says she was collecting important data about toxic chemicals in the whales, and that the investigation has hindered that research.

She is charged with four violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act for feeding killer whales during two research trips in Monterey Bay and misleading investigators by editing video footage of her encounters with other whales during a whale watching trip.

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