Animal Justice, a national animal law advocacy group, is urging the Canadian government to impose a condition on the export permits for most of the 30 beluga whales at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont. The condition they propose is that these whales should not be bred once they are shipped to U.S. aquariums. This request comes in response to the approval by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the emergency rescue of approximately 28 beluga whales, which are expected to be divided among four U.S. aquariums. Additionally, two other whales are slated for transfer to an aquarium in Spain pending the necessary permits from the Spanish government.
Animal Justice emphasized the importance of ensuring that the transported whales are not used for entertainment purposes similar to those performed at Marineland, which closed its doors to the public in 2024 after decades of showcasing orcas, belugas, and dolphins. The organization stressed the need to avoid repeating such practices that have fallen out of favor with the public.
While the office of Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has mandated health assessments by Canadian veterinarians for each whale as a condition of export permits, they have not explicitly committed to preventing breeding or entertainment activities for the belugas at their new locations. Responding to inquiries, Erik Nosaluk, deputy director of communications for the minister’s office, stated that final authorizations for the transfer would be granted once these health assessments are completed, emphasizing that the proposed plan complies with Canadian legal requirements.
The policy governing ministerial permits for exporting living cetaceans stipulates that the destination facilities must not engage in breeding or impregnating the exported animals. The four U.S. aquariums receiving the belugas are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, following rigorous evaluations of their operations, animal care, and staff training.
Johnny Ford, vice-president of communications for Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, one of the recipient aquariums, highlighted the focus on ensuring the safe rescue and care of the beluga whales. Acknowledging the potential need for specialized medical attention upon arrival, experts are preparing to address any health concerns and tailor individualized care plans for the animals.
Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, stressed the imperative of safeguarding the belugas from breeding and performance demands, underscoring the goal of ending the captivity of marine mammals. The commitment from the U.S. aquariums includes dedicated care staff assessing the whales’ well-being in preparation for transportation, ensuring a supportive environment with appropriate medical care and nutrition upon their arrival.
Marineland expressed recognition of their inability to provide long-term care for the belugas, supporting the rescue effort as being in the best interest of the animals. The process of finalizing the shipment of the whales, subject to necessary approvals, is expected to take several weeks, according to the U.S. aquariums.