Canada blocks Marineland’s plan to export 30 beluga whales to China, citing animal welfare law

Canada’s government has rejected a request from Marineland amusement park to export its remaining 30 beluga whales to China, saying the proposed transfer would violate the country’s animal welfare laws.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced the decision on Wednesday, confirming that Ottawa will not issue a permit for the whales’ relocation to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a major Chinese aquarium.

Thompson said the move would contradict Canada’s 2019 law banning the captivity and commercial use of whales and dolphins for entertainment.

“All whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for entertainment purposes,” the minister told reporters on Parliament Hill.

The decision means Canada’s last captive whales will remain at Marineland, a once-popular Niagara Falls attraction now c

According to data compiled by The Canadian Press, 20 whales — including one killer whale and 19 belugas — have died at Marineland since 2019. The park shut down in late 2024 after years of scrutiny from animal rights groups and has struggled to maintain operations since.

Marineland described the government’s ruling as a devastating blow, saying it had spent years trying to find a permanent home for the animals.

“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,” the company said in an email.

It warned that the decision “condemns these magnificent animals to an uncertain future at a closed facility, with no ability to pay for their continued feeding and care.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised the federal government’s stance, saying Canada needs to “find a proper home” for the whales.

“We gotta save the whales,” Ford said. “It’s that simple.”

Thompson, however, defended the move, insisting that Chimelong Ocean Kingdom — known for large-scale marine shows — was not a suitable destination.

Marineland, which first opened in 1961, was once a major tourist draw in Niagara Falls. It announced its closure in 2024 and has since been seeking a buyer for its land and assets. No sale has been confirmed.

While Canada’s 2019 legislation did not require existing captive whales to be released, it banned breeding and the import or export of such animals for entertainment — a measure hailed by animal welfare advocates as a landmark victory.

For now, the belugas’ fate remains uncertain, as Marineland faces mounting financial pressure and a growing public call for the whales to be relocated to a marine sanctuary rather than another entertainment park.