Image copyright Reuters Image caption SeaWorld ended its controversial orca breeding programme in 2016 
 
 SeaWorld and its former boss have agreed to pay more than $5m to settle claims they misled investors over the impact of documentary film Blackfish. 
 
 The firm and James Atchison downplayed the effect on the firm's reputation and business, the US regulator said. 
 
 The 2013 US film was about a performing killer whale at the marine park called Tilikum, and depicted keeping orcas in captivity as cruel and dangerous. 
 
 The negative publicity led to a drop in visitor numbers at SeaWorld. 
 
 According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, SeaWorld and Mr Atchison made "untrue and misleading statements or omissions" in regulatory filings, earnings releases and calls from December 2013 before acknowledging the effect on attendance on 13 August 2014. 
 
 The revelation led to a sharp drop in SeaWorld's share price - almost a third in one day. 
 
 "This case underscores the need for a company to provide investors with timely and accurate information that has an adverse impact on its business," said Steven Peikin, co-director of the SEC enforcement division. 
 
 Image copyright Reuters Image caption SeaWorld has previously said it will phase out its live orca shows 
 
 SeaWorld and Mr Atchison have agreed to pay $4m (£3m) and $1m respectively to settle the claims, but have not admitted or denied the SEC's findings. 
 
 Mr Atchison resigned as chief executive in early 2015. 
 
 In a statement on behalf of itself and Mr Atchison, SeaWorld said it was pleased to settle, and to continue focusing on customers, rescuing animals and providing "world-class animal care". 
 
 SeaWorld has struggled to reverse the impact from Blackfish, with falling sales and visitor numbers leading it to report a $20m loss for its 2017 financial year. 
 
 SeaWorld, which has 12 parks across the US, ended its controversial orca breeding programme in 2016 and has also said it would phase out its live orca shows. ||||| The former chief executive of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. will pay more than $1 million to settle charges that he wasn’t upfront with investors about the impact that a critical documentary film would have on the theme-park operator’s business. 
 
 James Atchison, the ex-CEO of SeaWorld, made untrue and misleading statements or withheld information about what the film, called “Blackfish,” would mean for SeaWorld’s prospects between late December 2013 and mid-August 2014, according to a suit filed by the Securities and Exchange...
– SeaWorld will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the theme park misled investors by downplaying the impact that the 2013 documentary Blackfish had on its reputation and business. Per the Wall Street Journal, former CEO James Atchison will also pay more than $1 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which claimed "untrue and misleading statements or omissions" in communications between December 2013 and mid-August 2014, when SeaWorld acknowledged a drop in attendance tied to the documentary painting orca captivity as cruel. Its share price then dropped by almost a third in one day, reports the BBC. SeaWorld and Atchison did not admit to or deny the claims, per the Journal.