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Ottawa has signed off on the first big step in a plan to move the last captive whales in Canada out of Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont. The animals, 30 belugas and four dolphins, have been living under the threat of mass euthanasia if a transfer can’t be completed.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has issued initial permits under CITES, the international wildlife trade convention, and says more federal approvals will come closer to the actual move, which is being talked about in terms of the next few months.
Ottawa approves initial Marineland whale permits
DFO says it is co-ordinating with the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada and other partners to meet all requirements for a “safe and timely transfer,” according to spokesperson Erik Nosaluk.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson called the endorsement “a positive step forward,” while also stressing there’s still work to do. One key unanswered question: whether Ottawa will put taxpayer money toward the relocation. Reports agree the federal government hasn’t decided, and Thompson did not commit when asked, saying her focus was on permits.
Niagara Falls Marineland belugas face euthanasia threat
Marineland has been closed to the public since late summer 2024, after the deaths of John Holer (the founder) and later his wife, Marie Holer, who had put the property up for sale in early 2023. The estate has been trying to relocate animals and sell the land near Horseshoe Falls, and multiple reports point out the animals need to be moved for a major real estate deal to go through.
The pressure has been building for years. According to provincial data obtained through freedom-of-information requests and official statements, 20 whales have died at Marineland since 2019 (19 belugas and one killer whale).
There’s also recent legal context: The Associated Press notes Marineland was found guilty in 2024 under Ontario’s animal cruelty laws in a case tied to the care of three black bears.
U.S. and Spain aquariums set destinations
Under the endorsed plan, belugas and dolphins would be split among five facilities: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld sites in San Diego and San Antonio, and Oceanogràfic València in Spain (described as Europe’s largest aquarium). Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, which received five Marineland belugas in 2021, is also involved in helping with the move, according to the U.S. consortium.
Johnny Ford, a Shedd Aquarium vice-president speaking for the group, told CBC the facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and can “activate in a matter of weeks,” but he also said there is no definite timeline yet.
Remaining hurdles: health checks and export permits
Even with the CITES permits in hand, several steps still have to line up. Ford said each animal needs medical exams by Canadian veterinarians to confirm they’re healthy enough to travel. Import permits from U.S. and Spanish authorities are also required.
On the Canadian side, DFO says final Fisheries Act export permits would be issued closer to transport, and only after final animal health checks. Under the Fisheries Act, export permits can be granted if leaving Canada is in the whales’ best interest.
The transfer plan itself is a heavy lift. A rescue feasibility and transport plan obtained by The Canadian Press describes a large-scale operation involving specialized containers for individual whales, transport trucks, and a police escort, with details still being finalized.
Why the plan changed after China deal
The whales’ situation sharpened after Marineland tried to export them to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China last fall, but Ottawa denied the request. Thompson linked that refusal to the spirit of Canada’s 2019 ban on whale and dolphin captivity (often called the “Free Willy” bill), noting Marineland was allowed to keep operating under a grandfathering provision but that the government did not want further exploitation.
After the China plan was rejected, Marineland warned it could run out of money and raised the possibility of euthanasia. Now, Marineland says relocation is its “top priority,” while animal welfare advocates like World Animal Protection Canada say they’re relieved the standing euthanasia threat could be lifted, and are urging receiving facilities not to breed the animals or use them for performances.
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