On October 1, 2025, the Canadian federal government delivered a decision that reverberated far beyond the gates of Marineland, the embattled Niagara Falls theme park. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced that the last 30 captive beluga whales in Canada would not be granted export permits to leave for Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a massive aquarium in China. The move, which Thompson said was rooted in animal welfare and Canadian law, has left Marineland reeling and the whales’ future hanging in the balance.
“To approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” Thompson explained, according to CBC News. “Like many of you, I am angered that these whales have lived a life of captivity and as a result their health has deteriorated. Canadians expect me to act in the best interest of the whales. Under difficult circumstances with regrettable outcomes, that is what I have done.”
Thompson’s decision aligns with the 2019 Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which banned breeding and performances of whales, dolphins, and porpoises for entertainment in Canada. Exporting such animals now requires a special ministerial permit, only granted for scientific research or if it is demonstrably in the animal’s best interest. Thompson, who visited Marineland in September 2025 and “looked the belugas in the eye,” said, “It was obvious to me that whales belong in the ocean. To see 30 belugas in contained spaces was very difficult.”
Marineland responded with sharp disappointment, warning that the denial of the export permit could spell disaster for both the park and its marine mammals. In a letter to Thompson dated October 1, Marineland wrote, “When you toured Marineland on Sept. 25, 2025, we made it clear: without the export permits you denied today, Marineland’s bankruptcy is inevitable and the whales will either fall into government custody or be euthanized.”
According to sources cited by The Canadian Press, Marineland is now facing a dire financial crisis. The cost to care for the whales is a staggering $2 million per month, covering food, medication, and a dedicated team of caretakers. With the theme park closed to the public since late summer 2024 and no revenue coming in, Marineland claims it has “no ability to pay” for the whales’ continued care. The park emphasized that euthanasia is a real possibility if no intervention occurs soon.
“Following several years of work to find a permanent home for our belugas, the humane relocation to an accredited facility abroad was the only viable option to ensure our beloved whales remained alive and received the care they deserve,” Marineland said in an email to The Canadian Press. The company argued that no sanctuary in the world is currently able to accept the whales, despite what animal activists suggest. “We cannot send them to a home that does not exist,” Marineland insisted.
The proposed transfer to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, which Marineland described as “the world’s largest, most advanced marine facility,” would have cost about $5 million. Marineland asserted that Chimelong was the only facility large enough and financially capable of moving all 30 belugas quickly. The park also warned that Thompson’s decision “will not only be remembered as a betrayal of the animals in our care, but also as a needless affront to Canada’s already strained relationship with the Chinese government.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed his disappointment, urging the federal government to reconsider. “I’m really encouraging the federal government to allow us to make sure that these whales survive in a really great atmosphere or a new home,” Ford said at Queen’s Park in Toronto. He suggested that moving the whales in smaller groups could be an option, but ultimately acknowledged that “shipping them out of the country is likely the only option.” Ford added, “We want them to survive and if they don’t, well, the federal government has to answer on that one.”
The situation is further complicated by the lack of operational sanctuaries for the belugas. Animal rights organizations have long advocated for a sanctuary solution, pointing to a proposed Whale Sanctuary Project off the coast of Nova Scotia. However, as Fisheries and Oceans Canada noted, that $20-million project is “not operational” and has been delayed for years due to land lease and local consent issues. Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, praised the government’s decision, noting that Chimelong has an active breeding program and forces whales to perform in shows—activities outlawed in Canada. “Denying the export was the right move,” Labchuk said, pushing for sanctuary alternatives.
World Animal Protection echoed these sentiments and called on Premier Ford to help accelerate the Nova Scotia sanctuary project. “That would be a safe, natural ocean environment where they can thrive,” said campaign director Melissa Matlow. Colin Saravanamuttoo, executive director of World Animal Protection, described the export denial as a defining moment, adding, “Now, the province of Ontario must show leadership and ensure these animals receive the best possible care. We should not export our animal welfare problems.”
For Marineland, the financial and operational pressures are mounting. The park, which opened in the summer of 2023, closed to the public in late summer 2024 and has not reopened. In the meantime, Marineland has begun selling off amusement park rides and is actively seeking a buyer for its property near Horseshoe Falls. However, sources told CBC News that the land is virtually unsellable as long as the whales remain, given the enormous costs and liabilities associated with their care.
Animal welfare concerns at Marineland are nothing new. Since 2019, 20 whales—one killer whale and 19 belugas—have died at the park, according to a database compiled by The Canadian Press. The province of Ontario has conducted a sprawling investigation into Marineland since 2020, with inspectors visiting over 200 times and issuing 33 compliance orders related to water quality, animal enclosures, and record-keeping. In 2021, Ontario declared all marine mammals at Marineland “in distress,” citing poor water conditions—a claim Marineland has disputed, attributing the deaths to natural causes.
The remaining animals at Marineland include four dolphins, several seals and sea lions, and a group of bears and deer. The fate of the belugas, however, is the most pressing and contentious issue. Thompson has said she is open to reviewing future export applications that “align with the Fisheries Act” and prioritize the health and well-being of the whales. “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,” she told CBC News. “That would be a wonderful outcome.”
As the debate rages on, former Marineland trainer and critic Phil Demers offered a glimmer of hope. “As one door shuts, you hope another one opens.” For now, the future of Canada’s last captive belugas remains uncertain, caught between legal, ethical, and financial storms that show no sign of abating.
