What's Next for Marineland's Belugas?

Marineland of Canada has been, for 60 years, a famous attraction in local Niagara Falls. It was famous for its captive whale and dolphin shows, however when Canada banned the live performances of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) in 2019, hundreds of animal’s welfare hung in the balance. Cetacean captivity has always been a hot-topic for discussion, as tank size, boredom, insufficient nutrients, chronic stress, and frustration, have led to profound physical and mental issues. Their captivity has been associated with shorter lifespans, brutal separations of these animals from their wild family, and high infant mortality rates in captively bred animals, especially orcas, who rely on their pods to provide support in the raising of their young. Canada was among one of the first countries to ban captivity, seeing other countries follow in their footsteps, more recently Mexico. However, Marineland was permitted to retain its current animals, including dolphins, seals, sea lions, belugas, and the orca Kiska, who passed away in March 2023. Kiska spent the last 12 years of her life in complete isolation, and was known as “the world’s loneliest orca”. 

Marineland shut down in September 2024 after facing financial difficulties from declining revenue and infrastructure deterioration. Due to the government of Canada’s lack of a mandate on release or rehabilitation of cetaceans, 4 dolphins, some seals and sea lions, and 30 belugas, now remain at the park with an uncertain future. 

Can the Beluga whales just be released back into the wild? 

The short answer is that it is not safe for the oceans or the animals. Marineland Canada has exploited 88 beluga whales in the time that it was open. 36 of those whales were captured from the ocean, and the other 52 were bred in captivity. There are 30 beluga whales that remain at Marineland Canada. Half of the beluga whales that remain alive were born into captivity and have not known a life outside of a tank. The other half are the remaining belugas that were captured and forced into captivity. So why can’t they be released back into the oceans they came from? The belugas at Marineland Canada have either never learned the necessary survival skills, or they have lost all of their natural instincts, such as hunting and avoiding predators, as a result of forced captivity. Additionally, captive animals that are released can introduce pathogens and diseases into the oceans that will infect wild populations. According to the federal department of fisheries and oceans, who is responsible for authorizing the live capture and release or rehabilitating marine mammals into the wild, it is out of the question to release these beluga whales into the oceans. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, marine mammals held in captivity for more than 2 years or born into captivity for public display should not be released back into the wild. Since releasing them is out of the question, how will Marineland Canada secure a safe home for the Belugas and ensure everyone involved is satisfied?

Whose opinions are involved?

World Animal Protection Canada: They have called on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to intervene. Since Canada banned exporting whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes, the belugas at marine land canada are at risk for euthanisation. World Animal Protection urges Ford to step up with a better solution. Without Federal export permits or financial assistance, Marineland Canada will be left with only euthanization as an option. 

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: They are working closely with like-minded organizations and the government to provide any necessary care and come up with rehousing options.

Animals rights activists and lawyers: They are fighting hard to have these belugas transferred to a Nova Scotian Sanctuary.

Indigenous leaders: According to Jason Etok, who has spoken with Inuit leaders, indigenous communities support the beluga’s release into the wild. There was talk of releasing the Marineland Belugas into the Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay, or St. Lawrence River. Unfortunately, due to guidelines announced by The Federal Department of Ocean and Fisheries, this goal is not possible. As a result, The National Inuit Organization of Canada has stepped out of the decision making process and has refused to further speak on the matter. 

The Canadian Government: The federal government  has denied Marineland’s request to export the whales to China for profit and is currently feeling the pressure to select an option right for everyone as soon as possible.

What will the fate of these belugas look like?

A Nova Scotian sanctuary

The most promising option is a Nova Scotia sanctuary, leased by The Whale Sanctuary Project, the first North American coastal sanctuary to host retired whales, including the ones at Marineland and also Miami Seaquarium which has also recently closed. This open-ocean sanctuary is fenced in, so the cetaceans would have a degree of protection from the ocean and not be able to interact with other belugas. However, they would have an improved 83 hectares of open water to swim in, a huge improvement from their current tank. Campaigners and scientists are putting pressure on the provincial and federal governments to approve this plan and the funding. Nothing has been confirmed yet.

Exporting them to China

The belugas have also been proposed to be relocated to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in the Chinese city of Zhuhai, a preferred plan by Marineland itself, who would be able to make money off the sale. This plan is complicated by the aforementioned Bill S-203, which prohibits not only the capture and breeding of cetaceans, but also the import and export of them, to help prevent them being transferred to another country with an active breeding and performance program. There are exceptions in the bill that allow for transfer for scientific research or if it is in the best interests of the animal. These exceptions would definitely apply for a transfer to the sanctuary, however whether their fates would improve at a theme park in China is up for debate.

Euthanisation

Marineland is highly in debt, and has unsuccessfully requested funding from the government numerous times to relocate these animals to China or continue to care for them at Marineland. After Canada blocked their transfer to China, “to approve the request would have meant a continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment.” (Thompson, 2025), Marineland reportedly threatened to euthanize all 30 belugas. In a letter from the 3rd of October, Marineland claimed that if the federal government refuses to provide funding for their transfer by October 7th, they will be forced to face the decision of euthanising their animals.

Nothing.

Over the past six years, 20 whales (19 belugas and one orca) have died at Marineland. If nothing happens to the remaining animals at the park, they will be slated to continue out the rest of their shortened lives in captivity.

The story of a beluga’s life in captivity, from beginning to end, is a tragic and devastating one. With shortened lifespans in tiny tanks, whiling away their days and forced to perform in front of crowds for food, there should be no question that they deserve better. And while cetacean captivity is being called into question across the globe, it is time for governments to invest the money into their continued safety and finding an ethical solution for each whale to have a happier end to its life than how it started.

References: 

CBC/Radio Canada. (2025, October 10). Why finding a new home for Marineland’s 30 belugas is proving difficult and complicated | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/marineland-beluga-new-home-solutions-9.6933460

D’Mello, C. (2025, October 23). Ontario tells Federal Government to approve Marineland Whale transfer to China, Nova Scotia. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/11490635/ontario-tells-federal-government-to-approve-marineland-whale-transfer-to-china-nova-scotia/ 

Guardian News and Media. (2025b, October 6). Marine Park threatens to euthanize 30 whales if Canada does not provide funding. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/06/canada-marineland-beluga-whales 

Marineland Beluga Situation. CVMA. (n.d.). https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/about-cvma/latest-news/marineland-beluga-situation/ 

Nunatsiaq News. (2025, October 17). Marineland’s 30 belugas won’t survive outside captivity, experts say. https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/marinelands-30-belugas-wont-survive-outside-captivity-experts-say/ 

The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, & Project, W. S. (2025, October 25). Updates on the beluga whales at Marineland Canada - the whale sanctuary project: Back to nature. The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature. https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/updates-on-the-beluga-whales-at-marineland-canada/ 

World Animal Protection. (2025, October 13). Ontario urged to act as marineland beluga crisis deepens. https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/latest/news/ontario-urged-to-intervene-marineland-beluga-crisis/