Marineland says belugas won’t go to Nova Scotia sanctuary, Ottawa blocks China sale

Beluga whales swim in a tank at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., Friday, June 9, 2023. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young)

Marineland Canada says none of their remaining beluga whales in captivity should go to Nova Scotia, where a proposed whale sanctuary is looking to be set up as a refuge for whales who remain in captivity.

Earlier this week, the federal government denied Marineland’s sale of its 30 beluga whales to an aquarium in China.

A senior government official says that sale violated laws in Canada that prevent the keeping of whales for breeding or entertainment.

In a letter to the Fisheries minister, Marineland says it has run out of export options for their belugas and are running out of money to care for them at their now shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls, Ont.

In Nova Scotia, the Whale Sanctuary Project CEO Charles Vinick believes they can be part of the solution.

They’d like to welcome some of the beluga whales but they are still awaiting permitting and approvals from both the provincial and federal governments to develop the site.

“I think we can, with everything coming together, welcome whales sometime next summer,” said Vinick in an interview with CTV News.

Marineland, which officially closed last year, also warned in the letter to the federal government saying euthanasia might be the only remaining option if the whales can’t be sold.

A former Marineland trainer turned whistleblower says Marineland is just posturing, there’s no veterinarian in Canada who would follow through on that kind of threat said Phil Demers.

“What Marineland is doing now with their threats is just bluster,” said Demers, who worked with beluga whales and other marine animals at the theme park for more than a decade.

“I’ve got to remind people that maybe on paper Marineland can make it look like they are in a place where they can file for bankruptcy, but they are sitting on 700 acres of prime land in Niagara Falls, and there are developers salivating at the chops to get a piece of that.”

Vinick called the threat of euthanasia “outrageous” and grounds for the Ontario government to step in and seize the animals and evaluate their health.

“The situation requires that we all come together now to see what we can do for these animals,” said Vinick. “Our sanctuary is certainly just one of the solutions, but the timing has to work for these animals, and we won’t know that until we can do medical evaluations of them individually.”

Of the 30 belugas, Vinick believes the proposed whale refuge in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, near Wine Harbour, could welcome eight belugas.

But in a recent report, Marineland insists it wouldn’t send any whales to Nova Scotia, claiming the site isn’t environmentally safe nor does the Whale Sanctuary Project have the funds or permits in place to build a whale refuge.

Vinick disputes that and says the environmental studies say otherwise.

“All of the results of those studies show that there are no risk to the whales and to any of the people that would be working on site,” he said.

Demers says, if there’s one thing the former whale trainer and Marineland do agree on, is that the Nova Scotia site isn’t a good fit for these beluga whales.

“They was never even a possibility,” said Demers. “They were never able to get the land lease agreement and the permits necessary to make it work.”

After Ottawa blocked the China sale, Marineland is asking the federal government for a bailout to keep the whales fed and taken care of.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson responded by telling Marineland they have a duty of care and encouraged them to work with the province of Ontario regarding the welfare of the whales, noting taxpayers won’t be footing the bill.

As for the Whale Sanctuary Project approvals, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources said the province supports the project’s intent, citing possible tourism and job benefits, but added there are still three property owners in the area who are not in favour of the project, saying it could impact their access to the shoreline.

The Whale Sanctuary Project still needs approvals from the DFO and Transport Canada.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page