For months a horrifying saga has been unfolding in Canada. Ontario’s Marineland closed in 2024 and had intended to send its remaining 30 beluga whales to an aquarium in China. When the government wouldn’t approve the transfer because it violated national laws passed in 2019 against keeping whales in captivity, Marineland threatened to euthanize the whales.
Now Nova Scotia has confirmed the recommendation of the Minister of Natural Resources, to issue a lease for a Whale Sanctuary Project that can potentially save at least some of the belugas. The lease, for 40 hectares of ocean near Wine Harbor, covers 20 years with an option to renew for a further 20-year term.
Charles Vinick, the project’s executive director, told CBC that the cove could house eight to 10 belugas, at a cost of $1.5 million to $2 million a year to operate as compared to the $2 million per month Marineland says it costs to care for the whales. Vinick said the project is currently funded by donations, has an upfront cost of $15 million, and could be up and running by next summer.
Since 2019, 18 belugas have died at Marineland and the organization was found guilty of animal cruelty in the treatment of three black bears. When the park finally closed after the 2024 season, it told the government it would either have to sell the Belugas to China or euthanize them if the government did not foot the bill for the maintenance of the animals in the park.
In France, where laws against keeping whales in captivity passed in 2021, the company reportedly wanted to send its two remaining orcas to Japan. Two of the French Marineland’s orcas died in March.
According to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, there are 346 facilities in 56 countries holding some 3,700 captive whales and dolphins. China has the most facilities (99) and holds more whales and dolphins (more than 1,300) than anywhere else. But there doesn’t seem to be a clear plan for rehoming marine life that is no longer kept as performing animals.
According to the Whale Sanctuary Project, the Nova Scotia government’s Order in Council means that the Whale Sanctuary Project now has a clear path to begin construction and to raise the capital funds to complete the sanctuary and welcome the first whales.
“The kinds of cost we’re talking about are way less than what would be spent to build another tank on land for even a few cetaceans,” Vinick told CBC.
In a release, the Whale Sanctuary Project thanked the government of Nova Scotia: “We are grateful to the Nova Scotia government and the Minister of Natural Resources. This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary and for the whales. We look forward to pressing ahead in every way to establish the Whale Sanctuary.”
The organization said they would be issuing updates on:
- The whales who are prospects for coming to the Nova Scotia sanctuary;
- Recent progress at the sanctuary and how donors can support the capital costs of construction; health and behavior evaluations and medical care of the whales at their present locations; transportation and introduction to their new home; and their continuing care at the sanctuary;
- How the growing collaboration among non-profit organizations, marine parks and aquariums, and governments at all levels is paving the way for a global effort to bring an end to the captivity of whales and dolphins and to retire them to sanctuary.
