In August 2020, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved Mystic Aquarium's proposal and an export permit was granted.

January 2021 - Last Chance for Animals (LCA) joins a lawsuit launched by Friends of Animals (FoA) as co-plaintiff to stop the transfer of whales from Marineland Canada to Mystic Aquarium.

As of February 1, 2021, the Canadian government has not publicly announced a decision on whether an export permit will be granted from Canada.