The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating the first incident of this year's seal hunt, involving a helicopter pilot with a U.S. humane society.

It's alleged that the pilot, with the Humane Society of the United States, flew too close to the hunt, said department spokesman Phil Jenkins.

"There were seal hunters in the area and the allegation is that the pilot flew his helicopter in a way that would disrupt the seal hunt," Jenkins said.

"The allegation is that the helicopter pilot, in directing his aircraft, was scaring seals off ice floes and into the water in an attempt to disrupt the seal fishery."

The incident took place Thursday in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 30 kilometres west of Rocky Harbour, N.L.

The pilot won't be issued an observer licence for at least the day, pending the outcome of the department's investigation. Jenkins declined to name the pilot.

The event in the northern Gulf opened Wednesday and presents the only real opportunity this year for protesters to get the visual images they need for their campaign to stop the annual hunt on the ice.

Earlier this week, the federal government banned observers during the opening days of the hunt in the southern Gulf, where there were poor ice conditions and few seals.

Observing the hunt in the northern Gulf is difficult for animal rights groups because they face far more animosity from people living in small communities on the coast of Quebec and Newfoundland.

Last year, the humane society had difficulty getting helicopters refuelled and, at one point, some of their members were trapped in a hotel for several hours by angry local residents.

Observing the northern Gulf hunt is also made more difficult by the greater offshore distances involved compared to the southern Gulf, which is within easy reach of Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.

The federal government has announced a total quota of 270,000 seals to be taken this year, down from last year's quota of 335,000. The change was made mainly because of poor ice conditions.