Canada endorses embattled marine park’s plan to relocate 30 beluga whales

Key points

• Canada and an embattled marine park have reached a tentative deal on the future of 30 beluga whales, ending a saga that has captivated the public and angered animal rights groups.
• The federal fisheries ministry announced this week that all of Marineland’s belugas would be shipped to either Spain or one of four locations in the US, ending whale captivity in Canada.
• The federal government and Marineland, which effectively closed to visitors in 2024, have battled for months over the future of the whales.
• At one point, Marineland threatened to euthanize the belugas after Canada’s fisheries minister blocked their sale to China.
• While permits still have to be finalized, a clear rescue plan has finally taken shape.