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Feds grant conditional approval for Marineland to send remaining belugas to U.S.

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Federal Fisheries Minister Joanna Thompson has given conditional approval for the export of Marineland’s beluga whales to the United States.

Thompson met with Marineland Monday to determine what will happen to the rest of the whales held in the former Niagara Falls tourist attraction.

In a statement, Marineland says it has approval for the relocation of 30 belugas and four dolphins.

READ MORE: Two U.S. aquariums call plan to move belugas from Marineland ‘premature’

The fisheries minister said in a statement posted to social media that her focus is on the best interest of the whales and that is what has guided this decision.

This comes after Marineland presented what it called an “urgent rescue solution” to Ottawa last week.

Sources say the park is in discussions with Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, mystic aquarium in Connecticut and three locations of SeaWorld in the United States.

Three of the institutions said they visited Marineland to check on the whales but any deal was premature.

The latest export plan comes three months after Marineland applied for permits to move the whales to an aquarium in China.

The situation was positioned as urgent, with Marineland repeatedly telling Thompson it was running out of money.

The fisheries minister denied that plan on the grounds that it would subject the whales to future performing in captivity.

Captivity became outlawed in Canada in 2019 but Marineland’s animals were grandfathered in.

READ MORE: ‘We need to get them out’: Beluga trainer fired by Marineland speaks out

Twenty whales have died in captivity at the park since that same year.

Two former Marineland trainers applauded the minister’s decision, while one animal rights group called the plan disappointing and heartbreaking.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he also supports the decision, saying the animals will have better living conditions.

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