An bold plan in Nova Scotia to construct North America’s first coastal refuge for captive whales could have hit a lifeless finish.
Paperwork obtained by The Canadian Press reveal the non-profit Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) has but to safe approval from all 5 house owners of property adjoining to the place the group plans to construct an enormous, floating internet enclosure for belugas and orcas retired from marine theme parks.
The paperwork, obtained by way of the province’s freedom of data regulation, state that the U.S.-based group received’t be granted a Crown lease for 81 hectares of land and water close to Wine Harbour, N.S., until the landowners grant unanimous consent.
Government director Charles Vinick mentioned Tuesday the $20-million mission on Nova Scotia’s japanese shore — introduced 5 years in the past and supported by non-public donations — could possibly be derailed.
“Conceivably, an individual may cease the mission from taking place, even with the quantity of help it has all through the remainder of the communities,” Vinick mentioned in an interview from Arizona. “Many individuals really feel that one or two individuals stopping a mission of this nature … is basically unlucky and could be devastating for us.”
Vinick confirmed WSP has written consent from two of the 5 affected property house owners. He mentioned the group has been in contact with two of the three holdouts, however one in every of them has mentioned “they don’t seem to be going to agree.” The third landowner, a lady from Montreal, has not responded to WSP in any approach.
In August, Vinick wrote a letter asking Nova Scotia’s Division of Pure Assets to vary the principles.
“Any slowdown within the momentum we now have may have life-or-death implications for the animals, who languish of their present environments,” Vinick’s letter says.
“The prices related to conserving our web site growth progress in movement are substantial and it’s unreasonable and unfair to our many donors and supporters to maneuver ahead with out having the ability to have readability on how the unanimous consent difficulty could be mitigated by (the division).”

In response, Pure Assets Minister Tory Rushton mentioned he’s not about to vary the principles.
“There’s going to be an influence to waterfront properties,” he mentioned in an interview Tuesday. “We need to be sure that we’re not infringing on something, and that the mission (proponents) are being open and clear with these landowners.”

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Requested if he would take into account offering Vinick’s group with an exemption, Rushton mentioned, “That’s not a place we’re able to be at proper now.” He declined to say if he would impose a deadline.
Vinick’s letter makes it clear the mission is at a turning level.
“To let this life-changing and historic endeavour fail as a result of … property house owners are unable to search out frequent floor could be a tragic flip for the whales, and we expect, for Nova Scotia, for Canada and for the world,” he wrote on Aug. 19.
Throughout the 500 pages of paperwork launched by the Pure Assets Division, emails from landowners say they’re apprehensive about shedding entry to the water as soon as nets are put in across the 40-hectare enclosure. Others complained about elevated site visitors as a result of WSP had deliberate to construct an schooling centre close by, however that concept has been scrapped.
When the mission was introduced in February 2020, organizers mentioned the sanctuary would open in 2022. However the COVID-19 pandemic and regulatory hurdles led to delays. Vinick later instructed 2024 and 2025 had been sensible predictions. On Tuesday, he mentioned 2026 was extra possible.
In January of this 12 months, the French authorities rejected WSP’s bid to offer refuge to 2 killer whales residing at Marineland Antibes within the south of France. Below French regulation, the nation’s final two captive, performing orcas — Wikie and Keijo — should be faraway from France by the tip of this 12 months.
French officers mentioned the Nova Scotia sanctuary wouldn’t be prepared in time and so they apprehensive about ocean temperatures off the province’s east coast.
The next month, WSP made an identical supply when Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont., introduced it was getting ready for brand spanking new house owners and arranging financing to help the park and the relocation of greater than two dozen beluga whales.
Eighteen belugas, one killer whale and one dolphin have died at Marineland since late 2019, however the firm has lengthy defended its therapy of animals, saying the deaths had been a part of the pure cycle of life. The park is believed to have 31 belugas, the final remaining captive whales in Canada.
On the time, the president of the Whale Sanctuary Mission, Lori Marino, mentioned the group was “poised” to start out development on the Nova Scotia web site.
Vinick mentioned the proposed sanctuary may finally accommodate as much as 9 belugas, saying the mission may come collectively shortly as soon as landowner consent is granted. “You’ll be able to transfer mountains with the proper of help,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, the delays have fed hypothesis that the mission is a fundraising rip-off designed to counterpoint Marino and Vinick. Among the many lately launched paperwork are emails from unnamed individuals alleging fraud, however none of them present proof to help their claims.
Vinick rejected the allegations. “There isn’t a fact to any allegation that it is a fundraising effort that personally advantages me or personally advantages Lori Marino,” he mentioned, including that each are being paid lower than they earned at different non-profit organizations.
He mentioned WSP has achieved a terrific deal since 2020, having already accomplished an environmental overview and threat mitigation plans. However he confirmed the mission requires extra approvals from the federal Fisheries Division and Transport Canada.
Vinick additionally pointed to paperwork exhibiting help from Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq First Nations and what he described as widespread group help earned by way of an ongoing collection of public occasions and on-line conferences.
Nonetheless, he confirmed the federal and provincial governments are intently watching how the adjoining landowners are reacting.
“We don’t really feel (the mission) is in jeopardy at this level,” Vinick mentioned. “We’ve invested tens of millions of {dollars} thus far … we need to proceed as a result of we imagine it is a essential mission for the whales.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 19, 2025.
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