Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Nova Scotia has approved Canada's first-ever whale sanctuary, which offers a possible landing spot for many of the beluga whales at Marineland in Niagara Falls.
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A coastal cove in Nova Scotia will be transformed into a refuge, allowing the whales to swim in the ocean, while still receiving the care they require after spending a lifetime in captivity.
Marineland, which closed last year, has threatened to euthanize 30 belugas after the Canadian government rejected an offer to move them to China.
The new sanctuary site, operated by the Whale Sanctuary Project, could be operational by the summer of 2026.
“This sanctuary finally offers a real path to freedom for many of Canada’s last remaining captive whales. It’s a dignified place where these intelligent, social animals will have a chance to live out their lives in peace, in the ocean where they belong. With this sanctuary, Canada has an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in compassionate, science-based care for whales retired from captivity," said Kaitlyn Mitchell, Director of Legal Advocacy at Animal Justice of Canada.
It's not a full solution, however. Charles Vinick, executive director of the Whale Sanctuary Project, told the Winnipeg Free Press the proposed enclosure could only hold up to 10 of Marineland’s 30 belugas.