(Updated) Marineland decries Ottawa decision to bar export of remaining beluga whales to China

Marineland says it is "profoundly" disappointed by the federal government's decision to deny its request to ship 30 belugas to China and the park has "no ability to pay" for their care — with sources adding that means euthanasia is a real possibility.

Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced Wednesday morning the federal government would not grant an export permit to ship Canada's last captive whales to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom aquarium.

Thompson said she will not subject the belugas to a future performing in captivity, which is consistent with a federal law passed in 2019.

Twenty whales — one killer whale and 19 belugas — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to a database created by The Canadian Press based on internal documents and official statements.

The remaining whales are now in limbo as Marineland looks to sell its Niagara Falls, Ont., theme park and the vast swath of land it owns near Horseshoe Falls. 

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There are no other options, Marineland said Wednesday afternoon.

"Following several years of work to find a permanent home for our belugas, 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 to The Canadian Press.

The park noted that there is no sanctuary in the world that can take the whales, despite what animal activists say.

"We cannot send them to a home that does not exist," Marineland said.

"Today's decision by the Carney government condemns these magnificent animals to an uncertain future at a closed facility, with no ability to pay for their continued feeding and care."

Marineland said animal rights' activists "knowingly misled the minister as to alternative 'options' that they know do not exist.'"

Chimelong did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Marineland wrote to Thompson on Wednesday, urging her to reconsider her decision.

"When you toured Marineland on Sept. 5, 2025, we made it clear: without the export permits you denied today, Marineland's bankruptcy is inevitable, and the whales will either fall into government custody or face euthanasia," it wrote.

Chimelong is the only facility large enough to accommodate 30 belugas and has the financial ability to move them quickly, the park said.

"Minister, your decision will not only be remembered as a betrayal of the animals in our care, but also as a needless affront to Canada's already strained relationship with the Chinese government," Marineland wrote.

"China worked closely with Marineland to accept these belugas into the world's largest, most advanced marine facility. Years of careful diplomacy and collaboration with senior Chinese officials have now been jeopardized by your actions."

In 2019, the federal government banned whale and dolphin captivity with a limited exemption for scientific research. The law did not apply to Marineland's existing complement of marine mammals. 

The new laws also forbade breeding, which forced Marineland to split up its male and female belugas, banned performances and also made it illegal to import or export marine mammals, though there is an exception carved out for a minister to export the animals if it is in their best interest.

"I'm proud that in Canada we do have an act that's very specific around the treatment of whales in particular, and how it is not OK to keep them in captivity for entertainment purposes," Thompson said.

"All whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for entertainment purposes."

Thompson said she is open to "looking at other decisions that really speak to the health and well-being of the whales."

Asked what will happen next, she said: "That decision sits with Marineland."

Two Marineland sources, who asked not to be named as they were not allowed to reveal the information publicly, said Marineland is willing to give custody of the whales to either the federal government or the province. 

The sources said Marineland does not want to euthanize the whales but that is now on the table following Thompson's decision.

While there is great interest in the sprawling property one kilometre from downtown Niagara Falls, it is virtually worthless to any buyer so long as the animals are there, the sources said.

Taking care of the whales costs $2 million per month for their food, medication and for a team of workers to care for them daily, the sources said. Without intervention, they said, the company will be out of money in weeks and will have to file for bankruptcy. There is significant debt and no revenue coming in. 

Moving the whales to China would cost about $5 million, the sources said, for which Marineland would need a loan to cover. Despite the belugas being worth several million dollars, the theme park would not come close to breaking even, according to the sources. 

Marineland did not respond when asked to comment on the sources' claims.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was disappointed the federal government would not sign off on the animals' move.

"I'm really encouraging the federal government to allow us to make sure that these whales survive in a really great atmosphere or a new home," he said at Queen's Park in Toronto. 

He said the province will help try to find other options for Marineland's whales.

"We don't have to move all 30 in one shot, a couple here, a couple there," Ford said, adding shipping them out of the country is likely the only option.

"And we want them to survive and if they don't, well, the federal government has to answer on that one."

Thompson said she agrees the whales deserve a good home but the Chinese park wasn't it.

"I could not in good conscience approve the export of these whales for further exploitation. I would welcome all export requests that align with the Fisheries Act and would expeditiously review them."

Marineland announced it was for sale in early 2023. It opened that summer, but had shuttered a few rides. It closed to the public in late summer 2024 and has not reopened. 

Four dolphins, a few seals and sea lions and a contingent of bears and deer remain at Marineland while it is up for sale.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has said it is aware of a proposed Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia, but noted it is "not operational."

That $20-million project has been delayed for years. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press earlier this year through freedom of information laws state a U.S.-based group won't be granted a Crown lease for 81 hectares of land and water near Wine Harbour, N.S., unless the landowners grant unanimous consent.

Camille Labchuk of Animal Justice said denying the export was the right move, saying Chimelong has an active breeding program and its whales perform in shows for the public.

She pushed the idea of sending them to a sanctuary.

World Animal Protection said Ford should lead the charge to help get the proposed Whale Sanctuary Project up and running in Nova Scotia.

That would be a "safe, natural ocean environment where they can thrive," said campaign director Melissa Matlow.

"If there’s political will to make it happen, it can happen."

Ontario is responsible for enforcing animal welfare laws and has conducted a sprawling, ongoing investigation into Marineland since 2020. Inspectors have visited the park more than 200 times and issued 33 orders for compliance.

The province still has four long-term outstanding orders against Marineland. Those are focused on the water quality, the maintenance and repair of the water system, proper record-keeping for whales and dolphins and the condition of enclosures and enrichment level for dolphins, seals and sea lions, the Ministry of the Solicitor General has said.

In 2021, the province declared all marine mammals at Marineland in distress, citing poor water. Marineland disagreed, filed an appeal to an order and then dropped its appeal.

Marineland has said water quality has not played a role in the deaths of the belugas, which were a part of the natural cycle of life.

A juvenile beluga died in February, while another beluga whale and a harbour seal died at the park in mid-August.

Phil Demers, a former Marineland whale trainer turned outspoken critic, said after Ottawa's decision that he remains hopeful that a quick solution can be found.

"As one door shuts, you hope another one opens."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.

– With files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa and Nono Shen in Vancouver