Overview

• Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson this week denied export permits to send the whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, citing Canada’s 2019 marine mammal law and opposition to entertainment captivity.
• Marineland told the minister it is fully indebted and rapidly running out of resources to provide adequate care, requesting immediate operating funds.
• The company says no operational sanctuary exists and no aquarium can accept the animals under the minister’s conditions, noting the proposed Nova Scotia sea sanctuary is not viable.
• Marineland says euthanasia would be a direct consequence of the export denial and argues the belugas were born in captivity and cannot be released to the wild.
• Twenty whales have died at the park since 2019, the property has been for sale since early 2023, and the owners asked Ottawa to identify any suitable facility and respond by Tuesday.