The Nova Scotia government has officially approved the construction of North America’s first coastal refuge for formerly captive whales, a groundbreaking initiative led by the U.S.-based Whale Sanctuary Project.
Premier Tim Houston’s cabinet has granted the organization a 20-year lease covering 83 hectares of Crown land and coastal waters near Wine Harbour on the province’s eastern shore. The approval, confirmed through a cabinet order posted online, allows the group to move forward with the long-awaited construction phase.
The project envisions a vast floating net enclosure designed to house whales and dolphins retired from marine parks such as Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Once completed, the $20-million sanctuary is expected to cost about $2 million annually to operate and could accommodate up to 10 belugas from Marineland’s current population of 30.
Charles Vinick, executive director of the Whale Sanctuary Project, says the approval will accelerate both construction and private fundraising efforts, with hopes of welcoming the first marine residents as early as next year. However, no animals will be relocated until final permits are secured from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada, ensuring full environmental and safety compliance