Nova Scotia has approved Canada’s first seaside whale sanctuary, a milestone in marine animal welfare. Located in Port Hilford Bay, the sanctuary will serve as a permanent, natural refuge for beluga whales rescued from captivity.
In Port Hilford Bay, The Whale Sanctuary Project will create a natural refuge for rescued belugas—an ocean habitat about 100 times larger than Marineland’s confinement tanks in Niagara Falls, where many belugas have spent years in captivity. (Credit: Steve Snodgrass / Wikimedia / CC BY-2.0)
The project, led by The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP), will transform a protected cove into a habitat roughly 100 times larger than the tanks at Marineland in Niagara Falls, where many belugas have spent years in captivity. In this environment, the whales will be able to swim freely and experience natural ocean features, such as tides, currents and seasonal changes. Although they will still receive human care and monitoring due to their long confinement, the whales will live in a space that resembles a wild, natural habitat.
“We are grateful to the Nova Scotia government and the Minister of Natural Resources,” wrote Michael Mountain, the co-founder of The Whale Sanctuary Project, in a news release. “This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary and for the whales. We look forward to pressing ahead in every way to establish the Whale Sanctuary.”
This development comes at a crucial time, following Marineland’s permanent closure. The park’s remaining 30 belugas faced an uncertain future after federal authorities rejected a plan to transfer them to a facility in China that did not meet Canadian animal welfare standards. Reports that Marineland might euthanize the animals sparked public outrage and intensified calls for a humane, long-term solution.
With the Nova Scotia sanctuary now approved, advocates see a viable path to rehoming many of these whales. Construction and environmental preparations could be completed by the summer of 2026. Animal welfare groups and marine scientists are urging both Ontario and federal officials to expedite the process of relocating suitable belugas once the sanctuary is operational.
Not all the whales are likely to be fit for transport. For those animals, improvements in care at Marineland will be needed to ensure their well-being. In cases where relocation to Nova Scotia is not possible, some belugas may be moved to accredited US marine facilities that meet strict welfare standards. Canadian law bans both the commercial breeding of captive whales and their use in performances.
The Order in Council by the Nova Scotia government approved the lease for the Crown lands comprising the Whale Sanctuary for a term of 20 years, with an option to renew for a further 20-year term.
“The government’s Order in Council means that the Whale Sanctuary Project now has a clear path to begin construction and to raise the capital funds to complete the sanctuary and welcome the first whales,” wrote Mountain.
“This sanctuary finally offers a real path to freedom for many of Canada’s last remaining captive whales,” said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy at Animal Justice. “It’s a dignified place where these intelligent, social animals will have a chance to live out their lives in peace, in the ocean where they belong. With this sanctuary, Canada has an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership in compassionate, science-based care for whales retired from captivity.”
