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The Fednav-chartered bulk carrier vessel Federal Cardinal has been issued with a fine of $6,000 for alleged non-compliance with a temporary mandatory vessel slowdown.

The penalty was handed down by Transport Canada, which in August implemented a temporary mandatory slowdown of vessels 20 metres or more in length to a maximum of 10 knots due to the increased presence of whales in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, between the Quebec north shore and just north of Prince Edward Island.

"While the shipping industry in general has been proactive in respecting the speed limits, the Government of Canada is determined to have the temporary mandatory slowdown respected by all vessels in the designated area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence," Transport Canada said in a statement.

The vessel owner has 30 days to pay the penalty or to ask the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada to review the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty.

The temporary mandatory slowdown is due to remain in effect until the whales have migrated away from the area of concern.

Transport Canada said it is examining all reported cases of non-compliance, on a case-by-case basis and continuing to assist Fisheries and Oceans Canada in monitoring the migration of the whales in the area.

Canada's Fednav owns and charters a fleet of ocean-going, dry bulk vessels and is a leading player in the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic. The 2015-built, 189.93-metre-long Federal Cardinal is one of 16 ships currently chartered by the company, according to Fednav's website.