Major Victory! Canada Approves First Whale Sanctuary, Offering Hope & A Future Beyond Captivity

In a groundbreaking move for animal welfare, Nova Scotia has officially approved Canada’s first-ever seaside whale sanctuary, marking a major victory in the fight to end the captivity of marine mammals. The sanctuary, to be established in Port Hilford Bay, will provide beluga whales with a permanent, peaceful home in a natural ocean environment, far from the concrete tanks they have been held captive in for years.

The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) will transform a sheltered cove into a refuge that is 100 times larger than the cramped enclosures at Marineland in Niagara Falls. This ocean sanctuary will allow the whales to swim freely, experience natural rhythms like tides and seasons, and finally live in an environment that resembles the wild, while still receiving the care they need after years of confinement.

”We are grateful to the Nova Scotia government and the Minister of Natural Resources. This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary and for the whales. We look forward to pressing ahead in every way to establish the Whale Sanctuary,” shared the Whale Sanctuary Project.

“This is truly a day of celebration,” said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy at Animal Justice. “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.”

The announcement comes at a critical moment. Marineland, now permanently closed, had recently threatened to euthanize its remaining 30 belugas after the federal government rejected its plan to send them to a substandard facility in China. This threat marked a disturbing new low for the infamous park, long criticized for its history of animal cruelty.

Now, with the Nova Scotia site approved, there is a real chance for these belugas to escape that fate. The sanctuary could be ready by summer 2026, and pressure is building on both Ontario and federal authorities to move quickly and relocate as many whales as possible.

For those whales not healthy enough for transport, improved onsite care at Marineland will be essential to ensure their well-being. Meanwhile, any remaining whales, once all sanctuary options are explored, could be transferred to accredited U.S. aquariums, as long as strict protections are in place to prevent breeding or forced performances, both of which are now illegal in Canada.

Since 2019, Marineland has seen the deaths of 19 beluga whales, one dolphin, and Kiska, the facility’s last remaining orca. The approval of this sanctuary is a turning point and a long-overdue step toward justice for these animals.

With this new chapter, the future looks brighter. No longer must whales suffer behind glass walls, they can now retire to the ocean, where they truly belong. This milestone offers real hope, and we look forward to more seaside sanctuaries being approved, so that even more whales can enjoy full, peaceful lives free from captivity.

TAKE ACTION! Help move Marineland’s beluga whales to a sanctuary by signing Animal Justice’s petition HERE!