US EditionOttawa denies Marineland request to export its remaining beluga whales to China
Canada enforces its 2019 ban on whale captivity by denying export of 30 belugas from Marineland, the last captive whales in the country, preventing further exploitation.
- On Oct. 1, 2025, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced the federal government refused to grant an export permit for Marineland Canada's 30 beluga whales to China.
- The 2019 Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act banned breeding and entertainment uses of cetaceans, while the Fisheries Act allows import or export only for research or the animal's best interest.
- Records show 20 whale deaths—one killer whale and 19 belugas—at Marineland since 2019, while animal-welfare inspectors have made over 200 visits and issued 33 orders since 2020.
- Facing the denial, Marineland warns of funding shortfalls for animal care, while Joanne Thompson said, `I would love to see the whales in a sanctuary and allow them to live their lives in a space that really is more aligned with what we know is the best environment for the whales,` and she added that Marineland decides next steps.
- With Marineland closed to the public last year, Saravanamuttoo hailed the export denial as a defining moment, while Phil Demers said he remains worried but hopeful a quick solution emerges.
114 Articles
114 Articles
Canada blocks theme park from sending 30 beluga whales to China
Canada on Wednesday denied a request from a controversial theme park to export 30 beluga whales to China, saying the refusal was necessary to protect the mammals from exploitation. Beluga whales in Marineland. File photo: Ian Irving, via Flickr. Marineland, a now-shuttered tourist attraction near Canada’s iconic Niagara Falls, has faced intense scrutiny for years. The Canadian Press news agency has reported that 20 whales — one killer whale and …
Marineland claims to be "deeply" disappointed by the federal government's decision to reject its request for 30 belugas to China, the park claiming that it no longer has "the ability to pay" for their care.
Ottawa Denies Marineland’s Request to Export 30 Beluga Whales to China
The Canadian government has denied Marineland’s request to export its remaining 30 beluga whales to a theme park in China, citing 2019 legislation that prohibits the export of living marine animals. “I want to be really clear, this is a very difficult decision to make, but it is rooted in the Fisheries Act, and I’m proud that in Canada we do have an act that is very specific around the treatment of whales in particular,” Fisheries Minister Joann…
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