Hope for Marineland’s Belugas, but we still need your help!

Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared this petition so far — your support continues to make a difference. 💙

This petition represents all those who believe Marineland’s belugas deserve a more humane life — ideally in a sanctuary setting rather than confined tanks. Yet hope remains among locals and animal activists. 

Latest Update (January 2026):

The health and safety of Marineland’s 30 belugas has long been a concern for Canadians. The federal government is now considering sending them to U.S. aquariums, including SeaWorld, Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, and Mystic Aquarium, following conditional approval from Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson. Final permits will be issued once Marineland provides additional information about the whales’ health and future care.

This decision follows the federal government’s denial of a plan to send the belugas to China in October. The focus must remain on the animals, with careful evaluation to ensure their well-being. While no exact deadline has been confirmed, the window for action is narrow.

Marineland has described this as an “urgent rescue solution” to keep the belugas alive and has expressed gratitude to the government for prioritizing the animals’ lives.

November Update: Animal Justice Panel: The Crisis at Marineland & the Path to Sanctuaries

The panel brought together leading experts in marine mammal science, animal welfare, and legal advocacy to address the urgent crisis facing 30 belugas, 4 dolphins, and hundreds of land animals at Marineland in Ontario. Panelists discussed the animals’ welfare, potential solutions, including sanctuaries, and actionable steps for the public to help.

“It was so clear to me that this was a place where belugas, any whales, could be happy… the largest tanks in the world cannot replicate this.” -Whale Sanctuary Project

Sanctuary Solutions:

Whale Sanctuary Project – Nova Scotia

>Naturalistic marine sanctuary with netted bays and acclimation pens.
>Veterinary care, 24/7 monitoring, enrichment, and space far exceeding tank conditions.
>Transport Canada and DFO have approved all aspects of the sanctuary plan except the individual transfer licenses, which will be applied for case-by-case once specific animals are identified. With these approvals in place, land and water construction can proceed simultaneously.

Legal compliance: federal approval and individual transfer licenses required.

 “Smaller pens allow for individual care, while the larger bay gives them space an order of magnitude greater than any tank they’ve ever experienced.” – Whale Sanctuary Project

Oasis Sanctuaries – Niagara Region (Inland) with N.A.P Capital 

>250-acre inland sanctuary with deep lagoons, exercise channels, AI monitoring, and medical facilities.
>No public access for spectacle; no breeding; fully funded for lifelong care.

Legal compliance: PAWS Act and international sanctuary standards.

“This sanctuary is built on science and expertise. It’s fully funded, fully planned, and ready to go—we just need government engagement to move forward.” – NAP Capital LLC
 
Challenges & Urgency:

1. Individual health assessments are critical before transport.
2. Collaboration is needed among Marineland, NGOs, veterinarians, and governments.
3. Moving animals safely is complex but possible.
4. Ontario government has legal authority to act immediately.
   “Doing something is better than doing nothing… this is the government’s job to protect these animals.” – Animal Justice

How You Can Help:

1. Call or Email your MPP using your address or postal code: https://www.ola.org/en/members/current

- Call to leave a voicemail. Here's a sample message:

My name is _______ and I'm a constituent of yours. I'm very distressed over the dire situation of the animals at Marineland and want to see the Ontario Government intervene---to assess the whales and other animals' health and improve conditions there until longer-term solutions are found. And you should force Marineland to pay the bill.Anything you can do to help the whales, dolphins, and all the other animals trapped there would be appreciated! Thank-you.

2. Support sanctuaries directly – donate or advocate for Whale Sanctuary Project and Oasis Sanctuaries.

3. Educate & share – use social media, school campaigns, or community activities to raise awareness. We have everything in place; we just need to make noise to let the Government know this is important to our citizens.
 
Key Takeaway:
- Marineland animals face a critical, urgent crisis. Sanctuaries offer ethical, long-term solutions. Public advocacy, awareness, and pressure can directly influence government action.

“Everything the animals need in captivity, they will still have—but for the first time in their lives, they will have a natural setting to thrive.” – Whale Sanctuary Project

OCTOBER UPDATE: “This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary Project and for the whales.”

Nova Scotia government gives Whale Sanctuary Project approval to build coastal refuge.

Organizers of a project to create North America’s first coastal sanctuary for former captive whales say they’ve received approval from the Nova Scotia government to begin construction on the province’s eastern shore.

 

 

 

 

We know there have been significant challenges in relocating Marineland’s beluga whales to a seaside sanctuary, including logistical, financial, and regulatory obstacles. One of the primary challenges in sending the whales to the Whale Sanctuary Project’s planned facility in Nova Scotia is that the sanctuary is not yet operational. However there is hope. 

Project organizers say the approval to build this costal refuge allows them to begin constructing a large floating net sanctuary designed for whales and dolphins retired from marine parks such as Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

They add that the new lease will also enable the non-profit to accelerate private fundraising efforts to support the $20-million project, which is expected to cost about $2 million per year to maintain.

While the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia remains a promising initiative, there have also been proposals and discussions regarding potential sanctuary sites in British Columbia and other parts of Canada. None of these, however, have yet been developed or initiated.

Our collective goal remains clear:

To ensure Marineland’s beluga whales are relocated to an appropriate environment that allows them greater freedom of movement and improved welfare.

To urge the Government of Canada to provide financial and logistical support to accelerate the development of possible suitable sanctuaries.

To remind the public that the wellbeing of these animals is a matter of urgency that cannot be postponed indefinitely.

While the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia remains a promising initiative, there have also been proposals and discussions regarding potential sanctuary sites in British Columbia and other parts of Canada. None of these, however, have yet been developed or initiated.

Our collective goal remains clear:

• To ensure Marineland’s beluga whales are relocated to an appropriate environment that allows them greater freedom of movement and improved welfare.
  
  
• To urge the Government of Canada to provide financial and logistical support to accelerate the development of possible suitable sanctuaries.
  
  
• To remind the public that the wellbeing of these animals is a matter of urgency that cannot be postponed indefinitely.

 

 

 

 

Canadians must continue to speak up for these animals, demonstrating our shared commitment to their welfare and future.

Marineland Canada’s beluga whales face multiple risks regarding their future. While Marineland previously threatened euthanasia, many observers believe this was primarily a tactic to secure government funding. In reality, euthanizing the belugas humanely would be logistically and ethically challenging. The whales also face the risk of remaining indefinitely at Marineland under current conditions or being transferred to other captive facilities, including in the United States. 

The federal government has denied Marineland’s application to export belugas to a facility in China (Chimelong Ocean Park). However, Marineland retains the legal authority to pursue export permits for other facilities abroad, including those in China or the United States, provided they meet the requirements of Canada’s Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act.

Marineland’s belugas remain in limbo primarily because the company has not prepared a proper decommissioning and animal disposition plan for their long-term care.

While Canada’s 2019 legislation banning the capture and breeding of cetaceans for entertainment marked a vital step forward, it left Marineland’s belugas “without a path.” Responsibility for the animals’ welfare lies primarily with Marineland the Ontario provincial government, as Marineland is a private facility that owns these whales. The federal government oversees import and export permits, but it also bears a moral responsibility to help ensure a humane resolution for these animals.

Many advocates have called for the Ontario government to intervene, seize the whales, and oversee their relocation to sanctuaries once such facilities become available. Euthanasia should be considered as a last resort only for individuals who are terminally ill or suffering beyond recovery — never as a broad population management strategy.

At this time, the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia is actively developing a seaside facility designed to provide natural ocean water and a semi-wild environment for whales in need of lifelong care. However, the project requires substantial funding and the timeframe is unclear. 

We are calling on the Government of Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to:

• Publicly reject euthanasia as a population management option for Marineland’s belugas.
  
  
• Provide funding and support for the timely completion and expansion of the Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia (or other proposed sanctuaries in Canada)
  
  
• Work collaboratively with the Ontario government to oversee humane relocation plans for all captive belugas in Canada.
  
  
• Ensure independent veterinary oversight to safeguard the health and welfare of the whales during any transition.
  
  
• Guarantee transparency and enforce high animal welfare standards throughout the process.

Each passing year in concrete tanks diminishes the whales’ health and quality of life. Canadians have both the capacity and responsibility to ensure that these remarkable animals are treated with dignity and compassion.

Let us say no to neglect and uncertainty — and yes to meaningful, humane solutions.