A beluga whale is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Catherine Kinsman
The Canadian government has denied Marineland’s request to export its remaining 30 beluga whales to a theme park in China, citing 2019 legislation that prohibits the export of living marine animals.
“I want to be really clear, this is a very difficult decision to make, but it is rooted in the Fisheries Act, and I’m proud that in Canada we do have an act that is very specific around the treatment of whales in particular,” Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson told reporters in Ottawa on Oct. 1.
