At the heart of Niagara Falls, a long-simmering debate over the fate of Canada’s last captive beluga whales has reached a critical turning point. The federal government’s recent decision to deny Marineland’s request to export 30 belugas to China has not only left the animals in limbo but also ignited a storm of controversy, raising urgent questions about animal welfare, legal obligations, and the future of marine mammal captivity in Canada.
On October 1, 2025, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced that Marineland’s application to send its belugas to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom aquarium on Hengqin Island, China, would not be approved. According to CNN and The Canadian Press, Thompson cited the 2019 federal law that bans the use of whales and dolphins in entertainment shows and prohibits their import and export, except under strictly limited conditions. "As Canadians, we know that whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for our amusement," Thompson said in a statement. She added, "I could not in good conscience approve an export that would perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured."
For Marineland, the decision was a devastating blow. The park, which has faced years of criticism and legal scrutiny over its treatment of marine mammals, had argued that relocating the belugas to an accredited facility abroad was the only viable way to ensure their survival and ongoing care. In a statement to The Canadian Press, Marineland expressed its "profound disappointment" and warned that, without the export permit, it had "no ability to pay" for the whales' continued feeding and care. The company went so far as to suggest that euthanasia could become a real possibility if a solution is not found soon.
Marineland’s plight is not new. Since 2019, the park has lost 20 whales—one orca and 19 belugas—according to internal documents and official statements cited by The Canadian Press. The deaths have fueled public outrage and intensified calls from animal rights advocates for stronger protections and sanctuary solutions. Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice called the government’s export denial "the right move," noting that Chimelong maintains an active breeding program and features whale performances, which would violate the spirit of Canada’s 2019 law.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford voiced his frustration with the federal decision, telling reporters at Queen’s Park, "We need a decent home for them, quite simply. We must save the whales." Ford indicated the province would help seek alternatives, suggesting, "We don’t have to move all 30 in one shot, a couple here, a couple there," but acknowledged that shipping them out of the country might be the only viable option. He also warned that if the whales do not survive, "the federal government has to answer on that one."
Marineland’s financial woes have only added to the urgency. The park, which closed to the public in late summer 2024 and has not reopened since, is up for sale. However, as sources told The Canadian Press, the property is virtually unsellable while the whales remain on site. Caring for the belugas costs approximately $2 million per month, covering food, medication, and staff salaries. The proposed move to China would have cost an estimated $5 million, money Marineland says it simply does not have. Without intervention, bankruptcy—and the uncertain fate of the whales—looms large.
Minister Thompson’s position has been consistent: the 2019 law, which she described as "very specific around the treatment of whales," does not allow for their continued exploitation in entertainment. While the law included exemptions for animals already in captivity before its passage, it also banned breeding, public performances, and, crucially, import and export without ministerial approval in the animals’ best interest. Thompson told reporters, "I’m open to looking at other decisions that really speak to the health and wellbeing of whales going forward." Yet, she was unequivocal about the rejected export: "I could not, in good conscience, approve exporting these whales for further exploitation. I will gladly consider all export requests that comply with the Fisheries Act and will review them as quickly as possible."
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who introduced the private member’s bill that ultimately became the 2019 law, applauded the government’s decision but cautioned that releasing the belugas into the wild or a sanctuary would require time to create suitable spaces. "It’s going to take time to create sanctuary spaces and find humane solutions," she explained. The need for sanctuaries is echoed by animal welfare groups and marine mammal experts, but the reality is sobering. The proposed Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia, a $20-million initiative, remains stalled and is "not operational," according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Land and water rights negotiations have delayed progress, leaving no immediate sanctuary option for the belugas.
Meanwhile, Marineland has accused animal rights activists of "knowingly misled the minister as to alternative 'options' that they know do not exist." The company maintains that Chimelong is the only facility large enough and financially capable of accommodating all 30 belugas. In a letter to Minister Thompson, Marineland warned, "without the export permits you denied today, Marineland's bankruptcy is inevitable, and the whales will either fall into government custody or face euthanasia." The park also argued that the federal decision risked diplomatic fallout, stating, "your 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’s role in the saga is not limited to political statements. The province is responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws and has been investigating Marineland since 2020, issuing 33 compliance orders related to water quality, maintenance, record-keeping, and animal care. Inspectors have visited the park over 200 times, and four long-term orders remain outstanding. In 2021, the province declared all marine mammals at Marineland to be in distress due to poor water conditions, though Marineland has disputed that water quality played a role in the whales' deaths, attributing fatalities to the "natural cycle of life." Most recently, a juvenile beluga died in February 2025, and another beluga and a harbor seal died in August 2025.
The situation remains deeply uncertain. Marineland sources have indicated a willingness to transfer custody of the whales to either the federal or provincial government, but the specter of euthanasia hangs over the facility. As animal rights groups urge the government to expedite sanctuary projects and politicians debate next steps, the fate of the belugas—Canada’s last captive whales—remains unresolved.
With the park shuttered, the whales’ future is a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between animal welfare, legal obligations, financial realities, and the evolving ethics of captivity. As Minister Thompson put it, "All whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for entertainment purposes." For now, the belugas’ journey home—wherever that may be—remains heartbreakingly out of reach.