Marine mammals held in captivity more than two years or born in captivity for public display should not be released into the wild, Fisheries and Oceans Canada says, as the fate of Marineland’s 30 beluga whales hangs in the balance.
The financially troubled Niagara Falls, Ont., amusement park, which did not open to visitors this year, threatened to euthanize its whales earlier this month unless it received government financial support, because it can no longer afford their care.
Animal Welfare Services confirmed the 30 belugas were alive as of Tuesday, said Brent Ross, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, in an email.
Jason Etok, who grew up in Nunavik, urged Inuit leaders to step in and help provide habitat for the belugas, suggesting they could be released in Hudson Bay, Ungava Bay or the St. Lawrence River.
Inuit organizations have not responded to that suggestion.
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for authorizing the live capture and release of rehabilitated marine mammals into the wild.
In 2018, the department provided scientific advice on criteria that should be analyzed before marine mammals being held in captivity are released into the wild.
Based on that criteria, Marineland’s belugas should not be released, said Tomie White, communications adviser for Fisheries and Oceans.
Animals held in captivity cannot hunt for themselves when released back into the environment.
“They lack the necessary skills for finding food and avoiding predation,” White said in an email.
As well, captive animals released into the wild may carry pathogens or diseases that could infect wild populations. They could also introduce harmful genetic anomalies to wild populations.
“This is of particular consideration for at-risk species that may co-inhabit in the wild,” White said.
Marineland has also determined the belugas won’t survive in the wild because of complex factors, the Niagara Falls Review reported this week.
Nonetheless, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he’s received calls from all over the world about what to do with the whales.
“There’s a lot of interest in making sure that we can find a soft landing for the beluga whales,” Diodati said in a phone interview.
Money is the primary issue, he said.
“It’s very expensive to feed and to care for these whales. We’re told by Marineland it’s a million dollars a month.”
Diodati said the belugas’ fate is not a municipal issue, but he’s engaged in finding a solution.
“That’s what responsible humans do, they take care of things,” he said. “I believe there’s no such thing as innocent bystanders.”
He said he hopes the whales end up at a sanctuary where they can be cared for and studied.
Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson encouraged Marineland to work with the Province of Ontario after denying a request to relocate the whales to an amusement park in China.
The provincial government can intervene, remove the animals and ensure they receive proper care, under the Ontario Progressive Animal Welfare Services Act.
The provincial government said Animal Welfare Services has conducted more than 240 inspections at Marineland since 2020 and that the federal government is responsible for signing off on permits to relocate the whales.
“We have done our part, and inspectors continue to ensure that Marineland meets the province’s strict standards,” Ross, with the Ministry of the Solicitor General, said in an email Tuesday.
Nunatsiaq News contacted Marineland for comment, but did not receive a response as of Friday afternoon.