Canada Endorses Transfer of 30 Marineland Belugas to US and Spanish Aquariums as Euthanasia Risk Looms

Canada's government has endorsed a plan to relocate the last 30 beluga whales and four dolphins remaining at the shuttered Marineland theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, to five marine facilities in the United States and Spain, following the issuance of the first batch of transfer permits by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The move, expected to take place within the next few months, is framed as the most viable pathway to prevent mass euthanasia of the animals if the property sale remains unconcluded and their care situation deteriorates further.

 

Background and Current Situation at Marineland

 

Marineland announced it was for sale in early 2023 and closed to the public in late summer 2024, with no sale yet finalised. The former Niagara Falls tourist attraction has since been working to relocate its remaining animals and sell the sprawling property near Horseshoe Falls. Twenty whales, comprising 19 belugas and one killer whale, have died at Marineland since 2019 according to provincial government data obtained through freedom-of-information requests and official statements. In 2024, Marineland was found guilty under Ontario animal cruelty laws in a case related to its care of three black bears, adding legal and reputational pressure to the already complicated process of winding down the facility. The estate of founder John Holer, who died in 2018, and his wife Marie Holer, who died in 2024, has been managing the dismantlement of the park.

 

Permit Process and Regulatory Framework

 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has issued the first batch of permits to enable the whale transfers and will issue additional permits closer to the actual move date. CITES permits, which govern the international trade and movement of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, have also been issued for the whales and dolphins. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson has described the development as a positive step forward while acknowledging that further work remains before the transfer can be completed. The ministry is coordinating with the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada, and other departments to ensure all requirements are met for a safe and timely transfer.

 

Read more: NOAA Forecasts Below-Normal 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season as El Niño Suppresses Storm Formation

 

Destination Facilities Across North America and Europe

 

The belugas and dolphins are set to be transferred to five marine facilities including the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld locations in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanografic Valencia in Spain. Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, which received five belugas from Marineland in 2021, will also assist with the transfer logistics. The distribution of animals across multiple institutions in two countries reduces the risk of any single facility being overwhelmed and reflects the coordination effort organised through an American consortium managing the receiving side of the transfer. Marineland has stated that relocating the animals is its top priority and has acknowledged that the process is an extraordinarily complex undertaking.

 

Animal Welfare and Conservation Implications

 

The transfer plan represents a convergence of animal welfare and conservation governance considerations. Beluga whales are long-lived, socially complex marine mammals that require specialised care and infrastructure, and the conditions at a shuttered commercial park without active visitor revenue present significant risks to their long-term welfare. The CITES permit process ensures that the transfer is conducted within the international framework governing the movement of protected species, providing regulatory legitimacy to what might otherwise be a commercially sensitive relocation of captive cetaceans between facilities in different jurisdictions. The broader public debate around captive cetaceans has evolved significantly since Marineland's operational peak, and the transfer to accredited aquariums is positioned as the most responsible available outcome given the circumstances.

 

Financial and Policy Uncertainty

 

The Canadian government has not yet decided whether it will provide taxpayer funding to support the cost of moving the whales, which represents a logistically and financially demanding operation. Moving large marine mammals across international borders requires specialised transport vehicles, veterinary supervision, temperature and water quality management, and coordination with border agencies in multiple jurisdictions. The absence of confirmed public funding introduces a degree of uncertainty into the timeline and the ability of all parties to execute the plan as endorsed.