Marineland Receives Green Light to Transfer Belugas and Dolphins

The Canadian government announced on Monday that it has given “conditional approval” to Marineland, the now-closed amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ont., allowing it to send 30 captive belugas and four dolphins to facilities in the United States.

Joanne Thompson, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, confirmed through a statement that she met with Marineland on Monday about the park’s plan to export these animals to U. S. institutions.

During a discussion last week, representatives from Marineland informed Thompson that they would have to euthanize the 30 belugas and four dolphins if Canada didn’t grant them permission to ship them out of the country.

Thompson described their latest meeting as “productive,” stating, “I provided conditional approval for export permits, pending receipt of final information from Marineland.”

According to Thompson, her main concern throughout has been ensuring the welfare of the whales, which guided her decision-making process.

A senior government source familiar with this situation mentioned that this conditional approval pertains only to specific U. S. facilities.

“Marineland will need to confirm exactly which animals are going where and provide a complete transport plan,” said this source, who CBC is not naming since they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

“Before any whale or dolphin can be moved, Marineland has to confirm in writing that a Canadian accredited veterinarian has assessed each animal and confirmed it’s safe for transport,” added the source.

Marineland has continued caring for belugas, dolphins and other animals even after closing its doors in summer 2024. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)

Marineland plans to relocate these whales and dolphins to Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium and a Sea World location.

Marineland shows ‘gratitude’

In a statement issued on Monday to , the amusement park expressed gratitude for Thompson’s support regarding relocating its 30 belugas and four dolphins.

“We extend our gratitude to the minister and the Canadian government for prioritizing the lives of these remarkable marine mammals,” it stated.

Last week, representatives from Georgia Aquarium and Mystic Aquarium told that Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) had invited a team of internationally recognized aquatic behavioral experts and veterinarians recently to observe 30 belugas currently residing at Marineland.

This visit allowed experts from four CAZA-accredited facilities – Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium and Sea World – an opportunity to assess both physical health and social dynamics among the belugas according to two U. S. facilities involved.

For its part, CAZA stated that it hasn’t been directly involved in recent discussions about possible transportation of belugas from Marineland.

Marineland closed its doors in late summer 2024 while trying to sell its extensive land near Horseshoe Falls. The diverse collection remains intact including the belugas and dolphins along with several seals and sea lions as well as bears and deer.</pp

A total of one killer whale and 19 belugas have died at Marineland since 2019 based on an ongoing tally created by The Canadian Press using internal records and official statements.</pp

An advocacy group calls news ‘heartbreaking’

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The advocacy group Animal Justice described news about conditional approval as “another disappointing turn” adding it’s “absolutely heartbreaking” that these whales might never experience life in a sanctuary setting.<pp

“Given Marineland’s alarming threat regarding executing those 30 belugas and four dolphins; it left little choice for the minister but offer these conditional approvals,” executive director Camille Labchuk said in a news release Monday.<pp

“However we fully expect that individual health assessments will be required for each whale and dolphin ensuring they’re healthy enough for movement. It’s also vital no breeding occurs in U. S., which is illegal here in Canada. These animals should be among those last generations suffering captivity.”

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