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Marineland asks Ottawa for emergency funds to feed whales
Marineland has asked Ottawa for emergency funding to feed and care for its whales, saying that without the money, euthanasia would be imminent.
Posted yesterday at 8:05 PM
Liam Casey
The Canadian Press
The water park claimed that the deaths of these animals will be a "direct consequence" of the Fisheries Minister's decision to refuse export permits for belugas.
Earlier this week, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson rejected Marineland's request to export 30 beluga whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China.
Thompson said she would not submit the belugas to future captive performances, in accordance with a federal law passed in 2019.
Marineland said the decision "effectively prohibits" the export of whales to any operating aquarium worldwide.
"Our only options at this point are to relocate the whales or face the devastating decision of euthanasia," Marineland wrote in a letter to Thompson on Friday. "This is an outcome we are desperately trying to avoid."
Twenty whales – one killer whale and 19 belugas – have died at the park since 2019, according to a database created by The Canadian Press from internal records and official statements.
The Niagara Falls tourist attraction has been up for sale since early 2023, but no deal has yet been finalized. Animals pose a barrier to any company looking to acquire this vast plot of land, located one kilometer from the Horseshoe Falls and at the heart of the region's tourism industry.
The park is short of money
"We are in debt and our resources to provide adequate care for the whales are rapidly depleting," Marineland wrote to Minister Thompson.
The park has requested immediate operational funding to care for the whales until a suitable relocation can be arranged.
A sanctuary project in Nova Scotia has been stalled for several years and is not a viable option, Marineland argued.
"This puts us in a precarious situation, as Marineland is not aware of any facility anywhere in the world that meets the conditions set by the minister for the export of these majestic animals," the park stressed.
Thompson said earlier this week that all whales have a place in the ocean, but that she was open to "looking at other decisions that really concern the health and welfare of whales."
Asked about what would happen next, she replied that "this decision was up to Marineland."
The water park enlisted Ms. Thompson's help in identifying other facilities that could accommodate the whales.
"We understand and appreciate that the minister is strongly opposed to captivity and we do not oppose this point of view," Marineland wrote.
"However, it is important to recognize that these whales were born in captivity. Releasing them into the ocean would unfortunately result in their immediate extinction."
Thompson 's office said Friday it had received only one round of permits for the remaining belugas at Marineland, which was rejected, and that it remained open to other export applications that comply with the Fisheries Act.
"Minister Thompson also rejects the assumptions made by Marineland in the letter about what she will or will not approve. Each permit application will be assessed on its own merits," her office wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.
The firm added that Ms. Thompson is "very aware that belugas cannot be released into the wild, and indeed she has not suggested it."
Bans since 2019
In 2019, the federal government banned the captivity of whales and dolphins, with a limited exemption for scientific research. The law did not apply to marine mammals already present at Marineland.
The new laws also banned breeding—forcing Marineland to separate its male and female belugas—outlawed live shows, and prohibited the import or export of marine mammals, although an exception was made to allow a minister to export the animals if it was in their best interest.
Marineland requested that Ms. Thompson respond by Tuesday.
"If we do not receive a response by that date, we can only assume that the responses to our requests are negative," he wrote.
"In such an unfortunate scenario, we will inform all stakeholders and the public and take the measures that will flow directly from the minister's decision."
Minister Thompson's office reiterated Friday that she only has authority over the approval or rejection of export permits.
Four dolphins, a few seals and sea lions, as well as a contingent of bears and deer are also found at Marineland.
A young beluga whale died in February, while another beluga whale and a harbor seal died in the park in mid-August.
Marineland asks Ottawa for emergency funds to feed whales
Marineland has asked Ottawa for emergency funding to feed and care for its whales, saying that without the money, euthanasia would be imminent.
Posted yesterday at 8:05 PM
Liam Casey
The Canadian Press
The water park claimed that the deaths of these animals will be a "direct consequence" of the Fisheries Minister's decision to refuse export permits for belugas.
Earlier this week, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson rejected Marineland's request to export 30 beluga whales to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, an aquarium in China.
Thompson said she would not submit the belugas to future captive performances, in accordance with a federal law passed in 2019.
Marineland said the decision "effectively prohibits" the export of whales to any operating aquarium worldwide.
"Our only options at this point are to relocate the whales or face the devastating decision of euthanasia," Marineland wrote in a letter to Thompson on Friday. "This is an outcome we are desperately trying to avoid."
Twenty whales – one killer whale and 19 belugas – have died at the park since 2019, according to a database created by The Canadian Press from internal records and official statements.
The Niagara Falls tourist attraction has been up for sale since early 2023, but no deal has yet been finalized. Animals pose a barrier to any company looking to acquire this vast plot of land, located one kilometer from the Horseshoe Falls and at the heart of the region's tourism industry.
The park is short of money
"We are in debt and our resources to provide adequate care for the whales are rapidly depleting," Marineland wrote to Minister Thompson.
The park has requested immediate operational funding to care for the whales until a suitable relocation can be arranged.
A sanctuary project in Nova Scotia has been stalled for several years and is not a viable option, Marineland argued.
"This puts us in a precarious situation, as Marineland is not aware of any facility anywhere in the world that meets the conditions set by the minister for the export of these majestic animals," the park stressed.
Thompson said earlier this week that all whales have a place in the ocean, but that she was open to "looking at other decisions that really concern the health and welfare of whales."
Asked about what would happen next, she replied that "this decision was up to Marineland."
The water park enlisted Ms. Thompson's help in identifying other facilities that could accommodate the whales.
"We understand and appreciate that the minister is strongly opposed to captivity and we do not oppose this point of view," Marineland wrote.
"However, it is important to recognize that these whales were born in captivity. Releasing them into the ocean would unfortunately result in their immediate extinction."
Thompson 's office said Friday it had received only one round of permits for the remaining belugas at Marineland, which was rejected, and that it remained open to other export applications that comply with the Fisheries Act.
"Minister Thompson also rejects the assumptions made by Marineland in the letter about what she will or will not approve. Each permit application will be assessed on its own merits," her office wrote in an email to The Canadian Press.
The firm added that Ms. Thompson is "very aware that belugas cannot be released into the wild, and indeed she has not suggested it."
Bans since 2019
In 2019, the federal government banned the captivity of whales and dolphins, with a limited exemption for scientific research. The law did not apply to marine mammals already present at Marineland.
The new laws also banned breeding—forcing Marineland to separate its male and female belugas—outlawed live shows, and prohibited the import or export of marine mammals, although an exception was made to allow a minister to export the animals if it was in their best interest.
Marineland requested that Ms. Thompson respond by Tuesday.
"If we do not receive a response by that date, we can only assume that the responses to our requests are negative," he wrote.
"In such an unfortunate scenario, we will inform all stakeholders and the public and take the measures that will flow directly from the minister's decision."
Minister Thompson's office reiterated Friday that she only has authority over the approval or rejection of export permits.
Four dolphins, a few seals and sea lions, as well as a contingent of bears and deer are also found at Marineland.
A young beluga whale died in February, while another beluga whale and a harbor seal died in the park in mid-August.
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