Source: WhaleSanctuaryProject.org

First whale sanctuary in North America opens in 2023

Port Hilford Bay in the maritime province of Nova Scotia, Canada, will soon become home to the first cetacean sanctuary in North America especially for whales retired from marine parks.

new sanctuary for whales is coming to North America

In Nova Scotia, The Whale Sanctuary Project recently celebrated opening day for the Operations Centre for the nonprofit’s upcoming whale sanctuary, which will be the first of its kind in North America. The sanctuary is planned for Port Hilford Bay in Nova Scotia and will include 110 acres (44.5 hectares) of habitat for the whales. This amount of space will be ideal for about eight formerly captive whales. The organisation wanted to find a spot that would offer plenty of interesting and enriching surroundings for the whales and other wildlife. — EcoWatch

The first involved several months of gathering environmental data to understand as much as possible about every aspect of the bay and its surrounding land. That’s because the 110 acres that will be the whales’ home need to be in an environment that’s interesting, varied and enriching, safe and healthy both for them and for all the other living creatures who inhabit the bay.
There have been two main elements to reaching this next stage. The first involved several months of gathering environmental data to understand as much as possible about every aspect of the bay and its surrounding land. That’s because the 110 acres that will be the whales’ home need to be in an environment that’s interesting, varied and enriching, safe and healthy both for them and for all the other living creatures who inhabit the bay. Source: Unsplash/Swanson Chan

The sanctuary will be near the Operations Centre, doubling as an educational hub for visitors

"The 110 acres that will be the whales’ home need to be in an environment that’s interesting, varied and enriching, safe and healthy both for them and for all the other living creatures who inhabit the bay," The Whale Sanctuary Project said in an earlier press release. 

"For example, it should be deep in some places and shallow in others; with a sandy sea floor in some parts and a variable sea floor in others – rich in plant and animal life and basically a place the whales can truly call home."

The planned sanctuary will be positioned about a 20-minute drive from the newly opened Operations Centre, which also doubles as an educational visitors center.

"Visitors will be able to watch interactive video displays to learn about the sanctuary," the nonprofit said. "They can learn about whales in general, and about whales in captivity and how their lives will be changed when they are retired to the natural environment of a sanctuary."

Source: EcoWatch 

These include the local communities of Port Hilford, Wine Harbour, and Sherbrooke and the district of St Mary’s; the people who live and work on the bay; the Mi’kmaq Nation; the federal, provincial and local officials who are charged with issuing the necessary permits; and with other interested people and organisations of all kinds throughout Nova Scotia.
The second aspect of site development has involved understanding how the sanctuary can work most successfully with all the people who have an interest in the bay and a relationship to it. These include the local communities of Port Hilford, Wine Harbour, and Sherbrooke and the district of St Mary’s; the people who live and work on the bay; the Mi’kmaq Nation; the federal, provincial and local officials who are charged with issuing the necessary permits; and with other interested people and organisations of all kinds throughout Nova Scotia. Source: Unsplash/Richard Sagredo

The Project has been working closely with locals, including the Mi’kmaq Nation

The Whale Sanctuary Project has been working closely with locals, including the Mi’kmaq Nation, those who live in the nearby communities, local fishermen, and the government to create this conservation space for whales.

The plans for a sanctuary came after Canada passed the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which prevents whales and dolphins from being held in captivity, particularly for entertainment. Currently, there are over 220 beluga whales and 53 orca whales held in captivity worldwide. 

These animals are highly intelligent, social creatures who do not do well in the small, confined spaces they are assigned to at aquariums and marine parks. Whales in captivity may become more aggressive or fall more susceptible to illness and higher risk of early death.

The sanctuary will provide a safe, spacious habitat for whales who are rescued from captivity. The organization is looking to raise $20 million for the sanctuary, which it hopes to open in 2023.

Source: EcoWatch  

This location has the full support of the fishermen who moor their boats at the wharf and fish for lobsters in the waters nearby. Source: Unsplash/Todd Cravens

The Whale Sanctuary Project: how it works

The Whale Sanctuary Project has been working with the public to establish a gold-standard coastal sanctuary where cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can live in an environment that maximises well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat.

Public opinion has turned against keeping whales and dolphins in captivity. The creation of this sanctuary is the first step toward the founders’ vision of a world in which all cetaceans are treated with respect and are no longer confined to concrete tanks in entertainment parks and aquariums.

There are sanctuaries for many land animals who are being retired from zoos and circuses, and now is the time to provide them for whales and dolphins. This first-of-its-kind sanctuary is being created in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, and it is being designed to serve as a model for many more that can then be replicated all over the world in the coming years.

As part of the overall mission, a team of global experts also assists in the rescue, rehabilitation and care of cetaceans in the wild.

Source: WhaleSanctuaryProject.org

This first-of-its-kind sanctuary is being created in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, and it is being designed to serve as a model for many more that can then be replicated all over the world in the coming years.
There are sanctuaries for many land animals who are being retired from zoos and circuses, and now is the time to provide them for whales and dolphins. This first-of-its-kind sanctuary is being created in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, and it is being designed to serve as a model for many more that can then be replicated all over the world in the coming years. Source: Unsplash/NOAA

Cetaceans in stats

By the Numbers

  • 1,100

Number of square yards of space in a large display tank at a typical high-end marine park.

  • 484,000

Minimum number of square yards for the first seaside sanctuary.

  • 3,000+

Number of captive whales and dolphins at entertainment facilities around the world.

Watch the project’s “Live Series” of webinars about whales and dolphins. More… 

And see all the Project’s videos – about the sanctuary, Whale Aid programs, and other events – on their YouTube channel.

Check them out in Facebook, and of course their website.

The sanctuary is planned for Port Hilford Bay in Nova Scotia and will include 110 acres (44.5 hectares) of habitat for the whales. This amount of space will be ideal for about eight formerly captive whales.
Whale Sanctuary Project Site: The sanctuary is planned for Port Hilford Bay in Nova Scotia and will include 110 acres (44.5 hectares) of habitat for the whales. This amount of space will be ideal for about eight formerly captive whales. Source: WhaleSanctuaryProject.org
Who knew Belugas have tufty hair? Source: Unsplash/Saanvi Vavilala

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A short film about the Whale Sanctuary Project and its work in creating a seaside sanctuary for whales being retired from captivity at marine entertainment parks. This re-release of the original film includes footage of the actual sanctuary site in Nova Scotia. What was a vision when the film was first made is now becoming a reality. Source: Vimeo/WhaleSanctuary

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We’re building a gold-standard sanctuary where whales and dolphins from marine entertainment facilities can live permanently in a natural ocean environment. Click to find out how you can get involved, donate, or just learn more about the project and sanctuary.

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