Marine mammalstrapped at ashuttered theme parkin Canada may get a second chance at life through a pending deal that would see them relocated to aquatic facilities in the United States.
Canadian Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson confirmed in anews releaseon Monday, Jan. 26, that she provided conditional approval to Marineland for export permits, which would allow for the park's beluga whales and dolphins to be transported to U.S. facilities.
Thompson's office will issue the final permits once Marineland provides the remaining required information.
It's estimated that roughly 30 beluga whales and four dolphins are still alive at the theme park, according to previousUSA TODAYreporting. USA TODAY contacted the park on Jan. 27 but has not received a response.
What happened to Marineland?
Marineland, based in Niagara Falls, closed to the public in 2024 amid financial hardships and concerns about animal welfare. The theme park had previously requested approval to export its remaining whales to the Chinese theme park Chimelong Ocean Kingdom on Oct. 1, 2025, but that request was denied.
Thompson did not approve the permits for that transfer because she said she would not force the whales to continue performing in captivity.
Where would the whales and dolphins go?
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which would likely receive the mammals if they're transferred to the United States, said it is too early to say exactly where the belugas may go or what the timetable looks like.
"Our focus is on the individual needs of the belugas themselves. To that end, our experts remain focused on using our recent observations of the whales to inform a potential rescue plan that is rooted in science and responds to the physical and social needs of the belugas," the association said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The mammals cannot be released into the wild because they were born and raised in captivity.
Three whales from Marineland were previously transferred to Mystic Aquarium in the United States in 2021. U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection reports from the time found the whales were in poor condition, but the facility said they were transferred there that way.
More:30 beluga whales still alive after Canadian park threatened to euthanize them
According toAnimal Justice, at least 19 beluga whales, three sea lions, one dolphin and multiple penguins and sea lions have died at Marineland since 2019. The nonprofit said Marineland threatened to euthanize the remaining mammals if the export permits were not quickly approved, according to aJan. 26 news release.
The nonprofit is urging both governments to ensure the mammals will not be used for breeding if they are transported to the United States.
"It is also essential to ensure the whales will not be bred in the US—which is illegal in Canada. These animals must be the last generation to suffer in captivity," the release reads.
Under Canadian federal law, export permits can only be issued if a transfer is in the animals' best interests and would require medical assessments of every whale and dolphin.
What are Canadian officials saying?
In 2019, Canada passed theEnding the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, effectively ending the trade, possession, capture and breeding of whales, dolphins and porpoises for entertainment.
Speaking at a news conference on Jan. 26, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he believed transferring the mammals was in their best interest.
"Well, they're going to have a better home than where they are, because it's a terrible home they're in right now. It wasn't large enough," he said. "They're going be taken care of, so I'm quite happy for the whales. I'm quite happy for dolphins."
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Marineland gets conditional approval to export belugas, dolphins to US
