Ottawa gives conditional OK for Marineland to export remaining belugas

World Animal Protection Canada's Erin Ryan says the fact that Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has been carefully reviewing the export plan 'is a good sign.'

Marineland’s belugas have a received a reprieve from death row after the federal government conditionally approved a plan to export the last remaining captive whales in Canada to the United States.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met Monday with officials from Marineland, the shuttered theme park in Niagara Falls, Ont., to talk about its proposed plan to move the animals south. The park is in discussions with four U.S. institutions to take its 30 belugas and four dolphins.

“It was a constructive meeting, and I provided conditional approval for export permits,” Thompson said in a statement posted on social media on Monday.

“I will issue the final permits once final required information is received from Marineland.”

Marineland said in a statement that it has Thompson’s support for the relocation of its 30 belugas and four dolphins.

“We extend our gratitude to the minister and the Canadian government for prioritizing the lives of these remarkable marine mammals,” it said.

The move comes after Marineland presented what it called an “urgent rescue solution” to the federal government last week.

Several sources told The Canadian Press that Marineland gave Ottawa an imminent deadline to issue export permits or it would proceed with its backup plan to euthanize the animals. The sources were granted anonymity because they are not allowed to speak publicly about the ongoing situation at the former tourist attraction.

They said the park is in discussions with Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and SeaWorld, which has several U.S. locations.

Three of those institutions said last week they recently visited Marineland to check on the whales and dolphins with the goal of “providing hope and a future” for the animals.

But they cautioned that any deal to take the animals was “premature” as they will have to go through their own bureaucratic hoops to import the whales.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford supported Thompson’s decision.

“They’re going to have a better home than where they are because it’s a terrible home they’re in right now,” Ford said of the animals. “It wasn’t large enough.”

He said he was “quite happy” for the whales and dolphins.

Twenty whales — one killer whale and 19 belugas — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to an ongoing tally created by The Canadian Press based on internal records and official statements.

In October, Marineland applied for export permits to move its complement of belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China. Thompson denied those permits, saying she would not subject the whales to a future performing in captivity.

That is consistent with a 2019 law known as the Free Willy bill. That law banned whale and dolphin captivity, though Marineland’s animals were grandfathered in. It also made breeding illegal, which forced Marineland to separate the male and female belugas.

It also banned importing and exporting of whales with an exception for research purposes, but gave the minister the power to make an exception if it is in the best interest of the animals.

Marineland pleaded with the minister, telling her repeatedly the park was running out of money.

The park had told Thompson the animals would be euthanized if the export permits were not authorized by Jan. 30, according to a letter she wrote to Marineland on Monday, which was obtained by The Canadian Press.

“Based on our discussion, I understand that for Marineland, the request represents the last attempt to save the lives of these animals,” Thompson wrote. “In short, the options you have presented are export or death.”

Thompson said she weighed the outcomes for the animals. She noted the proposed Whale Sanctuary Project in coastal Nova Scotia waters is not currently operational nor would it be an option given the timing.

“It is clear, given the information available to me, including the information you have provided, that the proposed export of the existing beluga whales and dolphins from Marineland to the U.S.-based facilities is in the best interest of the animals,” Thompson wrote.

Two former Marineland whale trainers applauded the minister’s decision.

“This is a big improvement, and an immediate improvement, for the whales,” said Phil Demers, who became an outspoken critic of the park when he quit his job as a whale trainer in 2012.

“There’s no place for Marineland in 2026. I look forward to the last animal being moved out of that place.”

Former trainer Kristy Burgess said she was “extremely happy” about the minister’s decision. But she’s also wary.

“There are still logistical, medical and regulatory hurdles that could affect timing and outcomes,” she said.

“That said, I’m hopeful and I’m glad to see (the fisheries department) acting in good faith to move the process forward.”

By Liam Casey.

With files from Allison Jones.