Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson says the Canadian government has given conditional approval for the export of Marineland’s remaining beluga whales to the United States, a move that could determine the fate of dozens of marine mammals housed at the Niagara Falls theme park.
In a statement shared on social media, Thompson said she met with representatives of Marineland on Thursday and confirmed that final export permits will be issued once the park submits additional required information. She described the approval as conditional, pending further documentation related to the proposed transfers.
The decision follows what Marineland described last week as an “urgent rescue solution,” which it presented to the federal government amid growing concerns about the health and survival of its marine animals. According to the company, the plan is aimed at safeguarding the lives of approximately 30 beluga whales currently at the facility.
The Canadian Press previously reported that Marineland intends to relocate the belugas, along with four dolphins, to multiple marine institutions across the United States. Those discussions have involved Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium, and SeaWorld, which operates several parks nationwide.
In a written statement, Marineland said it welcomed the federal government’s response and expressed appreciation for what it called Ottawa’s willingness to prioritize the welfare of the animals. The park said it remains committed to working with authorities to complete the permitting process as quickly as possible.
However, the situation has been clouded by reports from multiple sources familiar with the matter. Several individuals told The Canadian Press that Marineland warned the federal government it was facing an imminent deadline. According to those sources, the company indicated it would proceed with a backup plan to euthanize the animals if export permits were not granted in time.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity, citing restrictions on publicly discussing the ongoing negotiations surrounding the former tourist attraction.
With conditional approval now in place, attention turns to whether Marineland can meet the remaining federal requirements in time to allow the animals to be transferred to U.S. facilities, potentially ending a long-running and highly controversial chapter in Canada’s marine mammal captivity debate.
