World Animal Protection is calling for full transparency and immediate accountability following reports that Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, has filed a federal application to export its remaining beluga whales. The organization says the public deserves clear answers from authorities on the fate of the animals and the details of any potential transfer outside Canada. The development comes amid growing concerns over Marineland’s treatment of marine mammals, with reports indicating the facility is seeking to export its 30 beluga whales under a federal permit that is currently under review by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The department has confirmed the application was received and is being assessed under applicable laws, including the 2019 Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly criticized conditions at Marineland, calling them unacceptable, and pledged that the province will ensure the belugas receive what he described as “the best life possible.” Ford said his government is committed to enforcing provincial animal welfare laws and confirmed that any relocation of the animals must meet both federal and provincial standards. He also acknowledged the high cost of maintaining the belugas, which he estimated at over CAD 1 million per month.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada holds exclusive jurisdiction over the export of captive cetaceans. Officials have stated that any decision on the Marineland permit will be guided by existing federal law, which prohibits the captivity of whales and dolphins except under specific circumstances that support conservation or animal welfare. The department did not provide a timeline for the decision or details about the intended destination of the whales. World Animal Protection has raised alarms over the lack of transparency surrounding the application process.
World Animal Protection calls for accountability
The organization has urged the federal government to make the terms of the application public and ensure any decision prioritizes the health and safety of the animals involved. It has also requested independent veterinary assessments and called for the animals to be transferred only to facilities that meet the highest welfare standards. Animal welfare advocates point to past instances involving the transfer of marine mammals from Marineland, including a case in which five belugas sold to an aquarium in the United States died within months of their relocation.
Those incidents have prompted increased scrutiny of how such transfers are conducted and monitored. The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, passed by Canada’s Parliament in 2019, prohibits the capture and breeding of cetaceans in captivity, with limited exceptions for rehabilitation and licensed scientific research. Marineland is one of the few facilities in Canada grandfathered under the legislation, though it remains subject to oversight and regulation regarding animal health and export.
Public concerns escalate over transparency
The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General confirmed it is monitoring the situation at Marineland and will continue to enforce the province’s animal welfare legislation. The ministry stated that inspectors have conducted site visits and will follow up on any developments related to the animals’ status or care. The application to export the belugas follows years of public and legal challenges faced by Marineland over animal welfare concerns.
The facility has been the subject of multiple investigations, including those related to the deaths of marine mammals and the adequacy of veterinary care. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has not released a statement on when a final decision will be made regarding the export application. Marineland has not commented publicly on the permit or on the current status of the belugas. The future of the remaining beluga whales at Marineland will be determined by the outcome of the federal permit review process, which remains ongoing under Canadian law. – By Content Syndication Services.