Future sanctuary for captive Belugas in Nova Scotia

“In the selection process, we investigated a large number of sites, not only in eastern Canada, but also in British Columbia and the state of Washington,” recalls Charles Vinick, general manager of the Whale Sanctuary Project. The organization was looking for a maritime site spanning about forty hectares with the following characteristics: excellent water quality, water depths of at least 14 metres, and located in a bay or cove that could easily be fenced off with nets. The location was to be subject to natural waves, but relatively sheltered from inclement weather and ice.

Currently, it is estimated that more than 2,350 cetaceans live in captivity around the world, including approximately 2,000 dolphins, 300 belugas and 50 killer whales. However, in recent decades, public opinion has shifted considerably with regard to theme parks that feature cetaceans. This change is mentality is notably attributable to the hit film Free Willy (1993) and the documentary Blackfish (2013), which drove many countries to pass legislation on cetacean captivity. In the same vein, in June 2019, Canada adopted a law prohibiting the capture, import, export and reproduction of cetaceans in captivity. (article in French). This law is one of the most stringent in the world.

“We are not aiming for them to be self-sufficient in terms of food; the cetaceans will be fed and cared for, in particular so as not to exhaust the resources of the site, points out the director of the Whale Sanctuary Project. But we want them to be able to communicate with each other, experience the feeling of the waves, or even play with a crab on the seabed.”

While the choice of Port Hilford as a sanctuary was announced in late February, the COVID-19 pandemic has somewhat delayed the project’s progress, including the permitting process. But the team remains optimistic and continues to set its sights on the objective of welcoming the sanctuary’s first residents by the end of 2021: “Like everyone else, we continue to work through virtual meetings,” smiles Vinick, who points out that the project has been carried out from the start in collaboration with Canadian regulatory agencies (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, etc.), as well as with the scientific community.

In the future, the Whale Sanctuary Project hopes to develop other sites, accommodate other cetaceans in transition and install underwater cameras and land-based observation platforms. An opportunity to offer the public another form of interaction with captive marine mammals.