Canada Conditionally Approves Marineland Beluga Exports To U.S.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson conditionally approved export permits for Marineland's 30 belugas and four dolphins, pending final information after the park warned of euthanasia by Jan. 30, 2026.
Overview
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson conditionally approved export permits for Marineland's 30 beluga whales and four dolphins and said she will issue final permits once Marineland provides required information, Thompson said in a social media statement.
Marineland told Thompson it was running out of money and warned the animals would be euthanized if permits were not authorized by Jan. 30, 2026, according to a letter Thompson wrote to Marineland.
Marineland said it is in discussions with the Shedd Aquarium, Georgia Aquarium, Mystic Aquarium and SeaWorld to accept the animals, the park said in a statement.
An ongoing tally compiled by The Canadian Press shows 20 whales — one killer whale and 19 belugas — have died at Marineland since 2019.
Thompson denied an October application to export the belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, saying she would not allow future performing, and she said final U.S. transfers await Marineland's additional filings.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this as an animal-welfare rescue by foregrounding urgency and harm: editorial choices use evocative phrasing ("reprieve from death"), highlight a mortality tally (20 deaths since 2019), and prioritize government and welfare-focused perspectives. Marineland’s financial and operational defenses appear but receive less contextual development, reinforcing a rescue-oriented narrative.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Marineland is in discussions with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, and SeaWorld.
Marineland stated it was running out of money and warned that the animals would be euthanized if export permits were not authorized by January 30, 2026.
Twenty whales—one killer whale and 19 belugas—have died at Marineland since 2019, according to a tally by The Canadian Press.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson denied the October application to export belugas to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, citing opposition to future performing in captivity.
History
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