Published 6 hours ago • loading... • Updated 6 hours ago

Marineland has solid plan to move whales and dolphins to U.S., minister says

On Monday, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson conditionally approved Marineland's application to export its 30 belugas and four dolphins, Canada's last captive whales, to U.S. parks.
Facing a Jan. 30 deadline, Marineland said it would euthanize belugas and dolphins unless Ottawa approved export permits, citing dire finances in recent months.
Officials said conditions include a health assessment by an accredited veterinarian and an approved transportation plan, with Marineland negotiating placements at Shedd Aquarium , Georgia Aquarium , Mystic Aquarium and SeaWorld .
Legally, the move rests on the law's exception allowing the ministerial exception under the 2019 federal law on whales and dolphins, with Thompson saying it was in the animals' best interest to move them to the United States.
Observers note Marineland has lost twenty whales since 2019 and earlier applied in October to export animals to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, but Thompson denied the permits and Ottawa withheld funding.

Insights by Ground AI

4 Articles

Marineland Has Solid Plan to Move Whales and Dolphins to US, Minister Says

Marineland has a “solid plan” to move Canada’s last remaining captive whales and dolphins to several parks in the United States, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said Tuesday. On Monday, the minister conditionally approved the shuttered Niagara Falls, Ont., theme park’s application to export its 30 belugas and four dolphins south of the border. “This is a solid plan to allow these animals to live their life in much more healthy conditions,” Th…

6 hours ago·New York, United States

Read Full Article