A Brief New Commentary by Doug Draper, with information reported by the Canadian Press and a News Release from Animal Justice Canada
Posted October 2nd, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joanne Thompson
In the wake of recent news that owners and operators of the now-defunct Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario have been working on a plan to export its more than two dozen surviving beluga whales to an amusement park in China, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Joanne Thompson has said no to the plan.
“I could not in good conscience approve the export of these whales for further exploitation. I would welcome all export requests that align with the Fisheries Act and would expeditiously review them,” said Thompson in a statement she released this October 1st.
In reply to that, Marineland representatives, according to a Canadian Press report, issued a statement of their own expressing disappointment.
“Following several years of work to find a permanent home for our belugas, the humane relocation to an accredited facility abroad was the only viable option to ensure our beloved whales remained alive and received the care they deserve,” says the Marineland statement, which went on to challenge an alternative idea proposed by animal rights activists that a proper sanctuary should be built for the whales along Canada’s east coast.
Surviving beluga whale at the Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario
“We cannot send them to a home that does not exist,” Marineland insisted. “Today’s (October 1st) decision by the Carney government condemns these magnificent animals to an uncertain future at a closed facility, with no ability to pay for their continued feeding and care.”
Canadian Press cited “sources” inside Marineland who suggested that the park no longer has the financial means to look after the whales for much longer, leading to the possibility that they could be euthanized if the park can’t find a proper home for them.
An estimated 19beluga whales and one killer whale – the only remaining killer whale or orca being held in captivity in Canada – have died at the Marineland park over the past six years from various causes.
All of this may mean that the federal government or provincial government of Ontario, or both, may have to come in and look after the whales until an appropriate new home is found for them.
Niagara At Large will continue to post updates on this developing situation in the days and weeks ahead.
In the meantime, here is a news release circulated this October 1st by Animal Justice Group, a nation-wide animal advocacy organization –
Two of the many beluga whales held in capttivity at the Marineland amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario
OTTAWA—National animal law organization Animal Justice is applauding the federal government for acting in the best interests of the belugas at Marineland by denying permits to export all of the 30 surviving beluga whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China. Chimelong has an active breeding program, and forces whales to perform in shows—activities that are illegal in Canada.
Under federal laws passed in 2019 outlawing whale and dolphin captivity, a beluga can only be exported if doing so is in the best interests of the animal, or for legitimate scientific research.
“Denying Marineland’s export permit requests is absolutely the right decision. We applaud the federal government for prioritizing the best interests of these incredible, intelligent animals,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice. “Marineland cannot be allowed to sell these belugas to the highest bidder at another exploitative aquarium, in a country with no animal welfare laws, where they would have been used for breeding and cruel entertainment performances.”
“We urge the federal and provincial governments to continue this progress by working together to transfer as many belugas as possible to seaside sanctuaries, where they can finally live in a more natural and dignified environment,” Ms. Labchuk said.
In 2021, Marineland obtained permits to move five beluga whales from Marineland to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Three of the five whales later died. The potential for disastrous outcomes, such as the fate of the animals sent to Mystic, underscores the need for careful scrutiny of any plan to relocate Marineland’s surviving whales.
Each of the surviving beluga whales at Marineland requires a thorough, independent health assessment to determine their current condition and specific needs. This is crucial for ensuring their well-being and for making informed decisions about their future care and placement. These assessments should be conducted by qualified marine mammal veterinarians and experts, free from any influence by Marineland.
The ultimate goal for these belugas should be their transfer to a reputable marine mammal sanctuary, where they can live in a more natural environment and receive specialized, long-term care. Sanctuaries offer a chance for these highly intelligent and social animals to recover from the stresses of captivity and to live out their lives with greater freedom and dignity.
The Whale Sanctuary Project has been working to develop a seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia, which would see a large cove netted off to provide vastly more space for the whales than any aquarium could offer.
About Animal Justice Canada – Animal Justice is the only organization of its kind making sure that animals have a legal voice in Canada. Our team of compassionate lawyers and advocates fight for stronger legal protections for animals.
Our Mission – Animal Justice is Canada’s only national animal law advocacy organization.
We believe that animals need lawyers, and our legal team works to protect animals from cruelty and neglect. Canada has some of the worst animal protection laws in the Western world, and our mission is to overhaul the legal system to better reflect our country’s values of compassion and justice for all.
Whether animals are used for food, fashion, experiments, entertainment, or in the pet trade, our lawyers fight for the legal protections that these animals desperately need and deserve.
For more information, click 0n – https://animaljustice.ca/?utm_source=Ads&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=Grant&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16642068874&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Ov47dSEkAMVsjQIBR19sTlfEAAYASAAEgLRH_D_BwE
To watch an October 1st, 2025 report on CBC’s The National on the issue of what to do with the remaining beluga whales at Marineland, click on the screen immediately below –
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