PORT HILFORD—Animal Justice applauds Nova Scotia’s approval of Canada’s first-ever whale sanctuary, which offers real hope for a permanent, peaceful home for many of the beluga whales currently suffering in tanks at Marineland in Niagara Falls.
The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) will transform a natural cove in Nova Scotia’s Port Hilford Bay into a refuge 100 times larger than Marineland’s cramped tanks. The whales will finally be able to swim in the ocean, feel the rhythms of tides and seasons, and explore a natural environment—all while still receiving the care they’ll require to survive after a lifetime spent in captivity.
The approval comes at a crucial time, with Marineland, now closed, outrageously threatening to kill its 30 surviving belugas after the federal government rejected its application to move them to a subpar facility in China. The threat marks a new low for the notorious roadside zoo and aquarium, which has a long history of illegal animal cruelty.
With the WSP site approved, both the Ontario and federal governments must act swiftly to ensure as many belugas as possible are relocated to the sanctuary, which could be operational by summer 2026.
Once all sanctuary options are exhausted, the remaining whales could be moved to accredited US aquariums, provided there are guarantees they will not be bred or forced to perform—practices that are now illegal in Canada.
Whales who are not healthy enough for transport will need to be cared for onsite under improved conditions that better promote their health and well-being.
“This is truly a day of celebration,” said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy at Animal Justice. “This sanctuary finally offers a real path to freedom for many of Canada’s last remaining captive whales. It’s a dignified place where these intelligent, social animals will have a chance to live out their lives in peace, in the ocean where they belong. With this sanctuary, Canada has an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in compassionate, science-based care for whales retired from captivity.”
Nineteen beluga whales have died at Marineland since 2019, along with one dolphin and Kiska, the facility’s lone killer whale.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Katilyn Mitchell
Director of Legal Advocacy
[email protected]