The mayor of a rural town in Newfoundland has extended an offer to provide a new home for 30 beluga whales currently under the ownership of Marineland Canada.
Officials from the Town of Burgeo have reached out to Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson with a proposal to establish a sanctuary for the beluga whales within a sheltered cove.
Mayor Trevor Green expressed confidence that the whales could flourish in the waters off the coast of Burgeo.
Speaking on CBC Radio’s The Broadcast, Green emphasized the opportunity to relocate the whales to a more natural habitat in the region, highlighting the significance of environmental stewardship and rural innovation for Newfoundland.
Green stated, “I would prefer to see a beluga whale live out its life in its natural environment rather than confined to a pool.”
The beluga whales are currently in the possession of Marineland Canada, a theme park in Niagara Falls, Ontario, facing financial challenges and seeking government assistance to prevent the necessity of euthanizing the whales.
Previous plans to transfer the whales to a theme park in China were thwarted by export permit denials from Minister Thompson.
The proposed relocation site is a small saltwater inlet along the south coast fjords of Burgeo, intended to potentially become a protected national marine conservation area.
A collaborative feasibility study involving Parks Canada, Indigenous groups, and local and provincial governments is currently underway to explore the potential of designating the area as a National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) under Parks Canada’s purview.
Green highlighted the symbiotic relationship between having the belugas in the sanctuary and the establishment of a marine conservation area in the region.
In his correspondence, Green emphasized the added value a whale sanctuary would bring to the area and its potential to attract global tourism.
Even if the proposal for a protected area does not materialize, Green indicated the town’s willingness to pursue the sanctuary initiative.
While still in the early stages, Green mentioned the presence of third-party support, with the Atlantic Salmon Federation offering assistance to cover transportation costs for the belugas.
Green expressed urgency for prompt action, emphasizing the need to act swiftly given the critical situation.
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