Canada has signed off on a plan to ship the last 30 beluga whales and four dolphins from Marineland in Niagara Falls to accredited aquariums in the United States and Spain, with the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta among the destinations. If the complex logistics hold together, the transfers could spare dozens of animals that park officials said might otherwise face euthanasia if no buyers stepped up.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has already issued an initial batch of export permits and says additional approvals will follow as the details are nailed down. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson called the move “a positive step forward” and said her office is working with the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada and other federal partners to keep the transfer safe, according to The Associated Press. Ottawa has not yet decided whether taxpayer money will help pay for the operation.
Who Would Take The Animals
Under the current plan, the animals would be split among five facilities: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, SeaWorld parks in San Antonio and San Diego, and Oceanogràfic Valencia in Spain. Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut, which took five belugas from Marineland in 2021, is expected to help coordinate the move using materials shared with Ottawa and Marineland, according to The Canadian Press.
“In its review, DFO concluded that moving the belugas to the aquariums, all of which are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is in the best interest of the animals' well‑being,” Johnny Ford, a spokesman for Shedd Aquarium and the consortium, said in documents reported by The Canadian Press. The consortium's “rescue feasibility and animal transport plan” calls for single‑whale water containers, transport trucks and an escort team to move the animals overland and by air in the coming months.
Park Background And Why The Move Matters
Marineland went up for sale in early 2023 and closed to the public in late summer 2024 as the estate began dismantling park operations and rehoming animals. Provincial records obtained by journalists document 20 whale deaths at the park since 2019, and the facility has drawn regulatory and legal scrutiny in recent years, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The relocation push is unfolding against that backdrop.
What It Would Mean For Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium already houses belugas and other cold‑water species and says any newcomers would be folded into its existing care, research and husbandry programs. The aquarium highlights its beluga exhibit and animal‑care capacity on its site, pointing to trained teams and purpose‑built spaces for cold‑water animals, according to Georgia Aquarium. For Atlanta, that could mean a higher profile for one of the aquarium's star exhibits, along with fresh debate over keeping large marine mammals in human care.
Transport Risks And Precedents
Moves of this size are rare and risky for the animals. NOAA Fisheries records show that Mystic Aquarium imported five belugas from Marineland in May 2021 and that three of those whales later died, which led to permit amendments and a temporary suspension of research activities. Those permit documents and related materials are available from NOAA Fisheries, which reviewed that earlier transfer and its outcomes.
Next Steps And Timeline
Officials say additional export and CITES clearances are still needed before any of the whales or dolphins can move, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is expected to issue more permits closer to the transfer dates. Ottawa's endorsement removes a key political hurdle, but the schedule is still a moving target. Local reporting suggests the operation could unfold in the coming months as agencies and aquariums lock in the transport details, according to Atlanta News First.
For Atlanta residents, the immediate questions are practical and ethical: how the Georgia Aquarium will house any arrivals and how local conservation partners and animal‑welfare groups will respond. We will update this story as DFO, the receiving facilities and Marineland release firm arrival dates and more operational details.
