Canada Blocks Marineland from Exporting Beluga Whales to China
For the sake of the whales’ welfare, the Canadian government has proactively denied a request from Marineland asking to export its remaining beluga whales to China. The shocking outcome of the case leaves the fate of those whales in question. Still, it also just became a notable part of the continuing saga for captive marine mammals.
As the world’s largest aquarium themed park, Marineland has always attracted its fair share of controversy. Its collection of captive whales was undeniably a tourist ‘attraction’ for decades, yet just the same, it was also the catalyst for an unending barrage of protests. Things took a turn for the worse after Marineland hit mainstream media, following the 2019 Canadian law that prohibited selling, capturing, and breeding dolphins, whales, or any other marine mammals for the sake of entertaining purposes. marineland was superseded with a grandfather clause. This meant it could retain the marine mammals it currently possessed but was unable to capture any new additions.
The activities and condition of the park have been considered controversial for a long time. Since 2020, the provincial inspectors have visited the sites more than 200 times and have given animal welfare compliance orders about conditions of dozens. The reports continue to indicate terrible conditions and, sadly, twenty whales, 19 beluga whales, and 1 killer whale have died at Marineland since 2019. The park, that was open to the public until updates around the last summer, has not resumed business since. The park has also listed its property located beside in Horseshoe Falls for sale.
The Export Request and the Government’s Position
Marineland, in the meantime, January 2023, has been to fulfil the wish of the park and sell its 30 remaining beluga whales. The plan was to ship them to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a large ocean theme park in China that was more than happy to buy the whales. Like all other such moves, Marineland needed to obtain an export license from the Canadian authorities.
On October 1, 2025, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson officially denied the request. In a powerful statement, she explained that she could not approve an export that would “perpetuate the treatment these belugas have endured.” She emphasized that granting the request would have meant a “continued life in captivity and a return to public entertainment,” which contradicts the principles of the 2019 law. Minister Thompson firmly stated, “All whales belong in the ocean, not in tanks for entertainment.”
Marineland and A Possibility of Diminished Tomorrow
Marineland answered with grave disappointment and stated that the government’s decision “condemns these magnificent animals to an uncertain future.” The alleged ‘park’ claimed that the humane relocation to an accredited facility abroad was the only viable option to ensure the whales the care they deserved. Without the ‘park’ open and with no revenue coming in, Marineland revealed it has “no ability to pay for their continued feeding and care,” which is an estimated 2 million dollars a month.
Without elaborating, representatives from MarineLand claim the park does not advocate for this outcome, but the whales’ euthanasia status as “a possibility” comes as a stark warning. The proposal put forth by the park has enormous bureaucratic and financial hurdles. “The custody of the whales should not remain with the park,” said the park, leaving the whales with an irresponsible keeper.
Public and Political Polarization
The split in political viewpoints has become a public spectacle for entertainment. “We’ve hinged our support and borrowed whales nationalized our domains on a wonderful dream. The dream, even the pipeline to reality, rests on a foundation of kindness,” said Premier Doug, with an unsettling touch of philosophical excess. “There’s a satellite, with whales circling. We put a few there to feed them, and they bring a few more, and they start sprawling nets. Simple as that — we drape a net and decorate the other side of the dream with a few wavelets breaching. Then, we do the same, and — they’re content.”
Another side to, let’s say, other side public channels openly with regained breath. Camille Labchuk from Animal Justice claimed the ‘sensitive’ or ‘politically correct’ side is justified, brutal as the other side of the world might seem. The whales and other water-loving mammals remain in a breeding facility, captively performing on public display to entertain as the Westerner world thrusts in the nod offs to belt. The chill, blubbered ghosts await with the still-wings National lingering. The whales falling in the other others adore in repose with plans fermenting for a slighted sanctuary. The restful sea sanctuary. Simple, nothing more. Just what.
A Crossroad for Marineland and It’s Whales
The future for the beluga whales at Marineland is uncertain. One path has been closed due to the government’s refusal, but the answer to what follows for these animals is still unknown. The situation of the whales at Marineland exemplifies a changing attitude across the world towards wildlife entertainment and serves as a starting point for how countries may face the still unresolved issue of marine mammals in captivity. The world is waiting to see what the next chapter is for the last captive whales in Canada.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/02/americas/canada-china-whales-marineland-intl-hnk
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