Canada gives conditional approval for Marineland to export remaining belugas to the US

Canada’s last captive whales have received a reprieve from death after the government conditionally approved a plan Monday to export them to the United States.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson met with officials from Marineland, the shuttered theme park and zoo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to discuss their proposal to relocate the marine mammals. The park is currently in negotiations with four American institutions to take in its 30 beluga whales 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. “I will issue the final permits once final required information is received from Marineland.”

The decision comes amid growing financial pressures on the facility. Marineland had repeatedly warned the government it was running out of money and had set a January 30 deadline, after which it claimed the animals would need to be euthanized if export permits were not authorized, according to a letter obtained by The Canadian Press.

In a statement following the meeting, Marineland expressed gratitude to the minister and the Canadian government “for prioritizing the lives of these remarkable marine mammals.” The park characterized the relocation as an “urgent rescue solution” that it had presented to federal officials last week.

The Ontario attraction is reportedly in discussions with several prominent U.S. aquariums, including the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, and SeaWorld, which operates multiple facilities across the United States.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford voiced support for Thompson’s decision, criticizing the current conditions at Marineland. “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. “It wasn’t large enough.”

The facility’s animal welfare record has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. According to an ongoing tally maintained by The Canadian Press based on internal records and official statements, twenty marine mammals—one killer whale and 19 belugas—have died at Marineland since 2019.

This isn’t the first time Marineland has sought to relocate its marine mammals. In October, the park applied for permits to export its belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China. Thompson rejected those applications, stating she would not subject the whales to a future of performing in captivity.

Her decision reflects Canada’s evolving stance on cetacean captivity. In 2019, the country passed legislation banning the captivity of whales and dolphins, though Marineland’s existing animals were grandfathered in under the law. This legislation represented a significant shift in Canada’s approach to marine mammal welfare, acknowledging growing public concerns about keeping these intelligent creatures in artificial environments.

The potential transfer to U.S. facilities marks a critical turning point for North America’s marine mammal exhibition industry, which has faced increasing criticism from animal welfare advocates. Many facilities have moved away from performances and breeding programs toward conservation-focused exhibitions, though debate continues about whether any form of captivity is appropriate for these animals.

For the belugas and dolphins at Marineland, the move represents both a lifeline and an uncertain future. While the U.S. facilities likely offer improved conditions compared to their current situation, questions remain about the long-term welfare implications of transferring these animals to new captive environments rather than potential sanctuary or rehabilitation options.

The conditional approval requires Marineland to provide additional information before final permits are issued, though specific details about these requirements have not been made public. Wildlife authorities will likely monitor the transportation process closely to ensure the animals’ welfare during what could be a stressful relocation.