By: THE CANADIAN PRESS

HAVRES-AUX-MAISONS, Que. - A judge in Quebec has reserved his decision until Oct. 24 in the trial of five people accused of violating the terms of their observer permits in the 2006 seal hunt.

The trial in the Court of Quebec wrapped up Friday after hearing evidence all week on the Iles-de-la-Madeleine. The five defendants are representatives of Humane Society International and Humane Society of the United States.

They are charged with coming within 10 metres of seal hunters on March 26, 2006, while filming the annual slaughter in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, not far from Cape Breton.

The charge under the Marine Mammal Regulations carries a maximum fine of $100,000.

The defendants are Canadians Rebecca Aldworth and Andrew Plumbly; Americans Chad Sisneros and Pierre Grzybowski, and British citizen Mark Glover.

The 2006 hunt was marked by high-profile protests by pop music superstar Paul McCartney and retired French actress Brigitte Bardot.