Whale Sanctuary Project selects Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, for North America’s first sanctuary for captive whales.https://t.co/1ZaR0CRaHY. An inlet off the small community of Port Hilford on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore has been chosen by a U.S. group as the preferred location for its whale sanctuary. An artist's rendering of a planned whale sanctuary, which could be located in Nova Scotia or Washington state, shown in a handout. The Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) has just shared its plans to build a seaside sanctuary for rescued orcas and beluga whales in Nova Scotia—and SeaWorld could and should fund it, given the millions that these animals have involuntarily made for your company. This post is about the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.). A privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova Scotia. This item is written by Tim Bousquet. Waters off the coast of Canada could soon become a safe haven for whales that were raised in captivity. Photographing Belugas in the Wild. The plan to locate a sanctuary in Nova Scotia comes in the wake of Parliament passing Bill S-203 in 2019 to bring an end to keeping whales and dolphins captive in Canada. And at Port Hilford, we’re still collecting data that will help us be sure we can mitigate any exposure to potential extreme weather events. The Sherbrooke town council invites us to one of their committee meetings. The Whale Sanctuary project hopes to have its sanctuary off the coast of Nova Scotia – the first in North America – ready to receive whales from captivity by the end of 2021. The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia to create a seaside sanctuary in Port Hilford for whales retired from “entertainment” parks. sites for sanctuary for previously captive whales SHARE The Whale Sanctuary Project has narrowed its search to four locations: two in Nova Scotia and two in the Northwest. The aims of our sanctuary … What has been remarkably helpful in our site search across this region is the number of small communities who have stepped forward not only to offer their help in finding a suitable location, but to engage with us as potential partners in the creation of a beluga sanctuary. Jan 29, 2019: At a news conference, this morning, in Halifax, the Whale Sanctuary Project announced a series of public information meetings over the next 10 days to identify communities in Nova Scotia that may be interested in becoming home to a seaside sanctuary for beluga whales being retired from entertainment parks. A U.S.-based conservation group has selected an eastern shore Nova Scotia community for a form of retirement home for whales and dolphins raised in captivity. Who we are. Fortunately, Canadians won't have to wait for long — the whales are expected to move in their new home by 2021. The Canadian Press One is beside Sherbrooke in Port Hilford and the other is in Mushaboom, adjacent to Sheet Harbour. There are four sites on the short list: Two in Nova Scotia, one in British Columbia and one in Washington State. Two years ago, U.S.-based Whale Sanctuary Project announced it was looking at sites across North America to establish a first ever large seaside enclosure for whales and dolphins. The Whale Sanctuary Project is holding a series of public information meetings over the next 10 days to identify communities in Nova Scotia that may be interested in becoming home to a seaside sanctuary for beluga whales being retired from … The Whale Sanctuary Project | Back to Nature, Canada Bans Captivity of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises. Most recently, Hurricane Dorian, which swept up the coast of Nova Scotia in early September, gave us a good opportunity to observe the effects of 80-mile-an-hour winds in both locations. Whale Sanctuary Project selects Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, for sanctuary site. Chief Paul has been consistently helpful in introducing us to other officials of the Mi’kmaq people. The Whale Sanctuary Project is working with you to establish a model seaside sanctuary where cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can live in an environment that maximizes well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat. The plan to locate a sanctuary in Nova Scotia comes in the wake of Parliament passing Bill S-203 in 2019, to bring an end to keeping whales and dolphins captive in Canada. Canada is officially getting the first whale sanctuary in North America. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Feb. 26, 2020 – The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia to create a seaside sanctuary in Port Hilford for whales being retired from entertainment parks. 1175859) working globally to protect the world’s oceans and the amazing marine life that lives within them. That was the topic of a town meeting one evening, and in this next clip one of the residents who also owns a recreational boating tour business describes why she supports having a whale sanctuary there even though its location will affect the work of her company: Meetings like these, which involve the whole community, are a critically important part of selecting a sanctuary location. U.S. based non-profit The Whale Sanctuary Project is hoping to remedy this deficiency. On February 26 The Whale Sanctuary Project announced that it will create North Americas first seaside sanctuary for whales being retired from entertainment parks in Port Hilford. Shelburne had to drop out because their proposed sites did not have sufficient depth. The sheltered area is around 100 acres water – about a fifth the size of Monaco – with depths reaching 15 meters (50 feet). The tide is turning in the West but in Asia the marine entertainment park industry is booming. Conservationists hope a potential whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia could provide a home for the remaining 23 whales at SeaWorld’s U.S. parks By Jessica Macdonald Conservation News Nov 3, 2016 In March 2016, SeaWorld announced that it was ending its captive-orca breeding program . This year, Canada passed Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, which will bring an end to whales and dolphins being held in captivity except for rescue and retirement sanctuaries like those being planned by the Whale Sanctuary Project. The Canadian Press. The Whale Sanctuary Project has chosen an inlet on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore as the preferred spot to protect and care for retired orca and beluga whales that were raised in captivity. Thank you for supporting the Whale Sanctuary Project. The plan to locate a sanctuary in Nova Scotia comes in the wake of Parliament passing Bill S-203 in 2019, to bring an end to keeping whales and dolphins captive in Canada. The plan to locate a sanctuary in Nova Scotia comes in the wake of Parliament passing Bill S-203 last year to bring an end to the captivity of whales and dolphins in Canada. What makes Port Hilford, in Nova Scotia, Canada an ideal sanctuary s... ite for whales? The Whale Sanctuary Project has chosen an inlet on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore as the preferred spot to protect and care for retired orca and beluga whales that were raised in captivity. Here’s a brief look at the two locations: Another part of our work in surveying a potential location involves analyzing the water quality and scanning the sea floor conditions with sonar to detect anything that might be hazardous to the whale residents. On August 15th, we held a Whale Sanctuary Family Day Camp in Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, just 15 minutes from the sanctuary site in Port Hilford. The Whale Sanctuary Project, a U.S. based conservation group, is in talks with residents and government officials in the Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke areas of the province in hopes of setting up a place for once captive beluga whales to live. The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of ... Posted February 25, 2020 in For the Media, News. It could take a few years for this to happen but the whales will be able to live the rest of their lives in the open ocean and not in tanks. One thing we need to be very sure of is that the chosen location can handle the effects of strong storms. Nets will be put in place to keep the whales safely inside an area of 100 acres — just under the size of the Vatican City. A packed house at the town meeting in Shelburne. It has access to necessary infrastructure and plenty of room along the shore for the facilities that will be needed to care for the animals. A recent count at Canada’s only marine entertainment park, Marineland in Niagara, showed 54 beluga whales languishing in concrete tanks. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Feb. 26, 2020 – The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia to create a seaside sanctuary in Port Hilford for whales being retired from entertainment parks. On Tuesday, Executive Director of The Whale Sanctuary Project Charles Vinick announced that Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia has been selected as the home for a pod of beluga whales. The Whale Sanctuary Project has narrowed its North American-wide search for a location to house former marine park animals down to two sites on the Eastern Shore. The Whale Sanctuary Project, a U.S. based conservation group, is in talks with residents and government officials on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore in the hopes of setting up a place for once captive beluga whales to live. Our sanctuary work in Port Hilford, Nova Scotia is able to move ahead despite the global pandemic we find ourselves in. "The Whale Sanctuary … “Whales and dolphins are highly intelligent, emotionally sensitive and socially complex animals,” said Dr. Lori Marino, president of the Whale Sanctuary Project. Bill, Nova Scotia whale sanctuary find support. So, we are working with local residents to see if locating a sanctuary at this site can meet the needs of all community members. The Whale Sanctuary Project expects to announce the location of its first permanent cetacean retirement home. The Whale Sanctuary Project has narrowed its North American-wide search for a location to house former marine park animals down to two sites on the Eastern Shore. An artist's rendering of a planned whale sanctuary, which could be located in Nova Scotia or Washington state, shown in a handout. A still from the film Blackfish. And if Bill S-203 becomes law, Moore said, Nova Scotia has the potential to house a sanctuary for formerly captive whales and dolphins — a first in North America. Nova Scotia shortlisted as potential site for world's first whale sanctuary American group scouting N.S. Will you please devise a plan for moving the remaining orcas and belugas out of SeaWorld, starting with this sanctuary? Nova Scotia shortlisted as potential site for world's first whale sanctuary American group scouting N.S. © 2021 The Whale Sanctuary Project. comments, Someone just spotted one of the weirdest looking fish washed up in Canada, Bear in Calgary caught eating Halloween pumpkins while residents were sleeping, Vancouver woman shoved out of bus after spitting on a fellow passenger, Air Canada and WestJet bicker over plans to refund airline tickets, Poppy donation boxes in Canada will soon take credit cards, COVID internment camps in Canada don't exist despite what you might have heard, Canada won't be having a snap election this fall, Someone is setting fire to toilet paper at Walmart stores in Canada, Sign up for our free email newsletter. A privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova Scotia. The Whale Sanctuary Project has narrowed its North American-wide search for a location to house former marine park animals down to two sites on the Eastern Shore. Our first official meeting in Nova Scotia with Chief Terry Paul of the Membertou community of the Mi'kmaq First Nation. A U.S.-based conservation group, The Whale Sanctuary Project, has selected an eastern shore Nova Scotia community for a form of retirement home for whales raised in captivity. Sites we’ve explored in Washington State have easier access to infrastructure, etc. And with public opinion increasingly opposed to having whales on display for entertainment, there is a growing need for one or more sanctuaries to which they could be retired. Load sites for sanctuary for previously captive whales SHARE The Whale Sanctuary Project has announced that it will work together with Sherbrooke and the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia to create a seaside sanctuary in Port Hilford for whales being retired from entertainment parks. Canada is officially getting the first whale sanctuary in North America. I was part of the Free Willy generation, the movement that got children involved globally to help the orca Keiko. The number of possible locations in British Columbia must be in the thousands. But most also have vacation and other homes and businesses nearby.Read more, First in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. Premium content. Charles points out some features as they tour Sheet Harbour by boat. The Whale Sanctuary Project, a U.S. based conservation group, is in talks with residents and government officials on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore in the hopes of setting up a place for once captive beluga whales to live. The Whale Sanctuary Project has selected part of Nova Scotia's coast as a spot for a seaside sanctuary, over other regions in Canada and the US. Catherine Kinsman gives a talk about beluga whales and the sanctuary at a meeting of the Halifax Vegetarian Society. The Whale Sanctuary Project. In August a team headed by charity president Dr. Lori Marino traveled to Nova Scotia to assess potential sanctuary sites. ", A post shared by The Whale Sanctuary Project (@whalesanctuaryproject) on Mar 4, 2020 at 9:38am PST. It offers an expansive area that can be netted off for the whales in a bay that’s open to … Port Hilford, on the province's eastern shore, will be North America's first sanctuary for captive whales. Local communities have been a major help in in finding a suitable location and in working with us as potential partners in the creation of a sanctuary.Read more, Second in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. A privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova Scotia. The enthusiasm couldn't have been stronger as whale expert Charles Vinnick announced Shelburne, Nova Scotia will be the official home base to the first whale sanctuary … The SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary was created with support from Merlin Entertainments and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) with the aim of providing formerly captive … Naturally, Canadians are pretty excited about the prospect of cute beluga whales living in the country. You can unsubscribe anytime or, A post shared by The Whale Sanctuary Project (@whalesanctuaryproject). ", "They probably won't even know they can do that until they finally discover that they do have the space.". Updated: Dec 03, 2018 at 1:01 p.m. A A. Back in 2016, the Halifax Examiner broke the news that the Whale Sanctuary Project was planning to build a $15-million sanctuary for captive whales and was scouting locations for it in Nova Scotia. A U.S. animal protection group is touring the eastern province of Nova Scotia looking for a community that would agree to host a netted, offshore sanctuary for beluga whales. On Tuesday, Executive Director of The Whale Sanctuary Project Charles Vinick announced that Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia has been selected as the home for a pod of beluga whales. A whale sanctuary group has changed tack in its ongoing search for a beluga protection area in Nova Scotia. Front page of the Star Metro Halifax as we begin a series of town meetings and press conferences in Halifax/Dartmouth and along the Eastern Shore. A privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova Scotia. (Photo by Eastern Cooperator newspaper.). HALIFAX, NS, January 29th, 2019. The waters around much of Nova Scotia are beluga whale territory, and the eastern shore of the province has hundreds of bays, coves and inlets that we have investigated as possible locations for a beluga sanctuary. A concept image of the whale sanctuary planned for Nova Scotia’s Eastern shore. All Rights Reserved. What makes Port Hilford, in Nova Scotia, Canada an ideal sanctuary site for whales? If the Whale Sanctuary Project gets its way, then Nova Scotia could end up creating a double standard in the midst of a pending ban against the keeping of cetaceans in marine zoological facilities in Canada. Sherbrooke even threw a whale-themed party to celebrate the event, which included beluga artwork, singing, and even a cake decorated with icing that read "Belugas Belong Here! MUSHABOOM, N.S. But community leaders in Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke are working closely with us to plan how the sites they’ve proposed can be configured to meet the needs both of the whales and of local residents with private or commercial fishing and boating interests. On February 25, The Whale Sanctuary Project announced that a spot in Nova Scotia has been chosen as the site for a seaside sanctuary that will welcome the aquatic mammals that are being retired from captivity at entertainment parks. Nova Scotia will officially be home to North America's first whale sanctuary . Join the conversation Josh Healey ([email protected]) Published: Dec 02, 2018 at 5:31 p.m. — A privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova Scotia. The Whale Sanctuary Project has selected part of Nova Scotia's coast as a spot for a seaside sanctuary, over other regions in Canada and the US. Canada is officially getting the first whale sanctuary in North America. A beluga whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia is in the works and would be a retirement home for the whales. It offers an expansive area that can be netted off for the whales in a bay that’s open to the ocean but is sheltered from storms. The sole location in Washington is in the San Juans off Cypress Island, the location of Cooke Aquaculture's notorious net pen collapse in 2017. (Third in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive orcas or beluga whales. Here’s how, during a scouting trip, our executive director, Charles Vinick, describes the relationship between the community and the sanctuary, and the value of this kind of partnership: And here are a few photos from our meetings with local citizens and community leaders: Third in a series of posts about our search for the best location for a seaside sanctuary for captive whales. "The Whale Sanctuary … On February 25, The Whale Sanctuary Project announced that a spot in Nova Scotia has been chosen as the site for a seaside sanctuary that will welcome the aquatic mammals that are being retired from captivity at entertainment parks. The waters around much of Nova Scotia are beluga whale territory, and the eastern shore of the province has hundreds of bays, coves and inlets that we have investigated as possible locations for a beluga sanctuary. Welcome to the world's first Beluga Whale Sanctuary! After researching hundreds of locations in Washington state, British Columbia and Nova Scotia, the Whale Sanctuary Project selected Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, in February 2020, as the best site to create a seaside sanctuary for whales being retired from entertainment parks. Charles Vinick meets and greets at one of the meetins in Sherbrooke. The SEA LIFE Trust is a registered charity (no. The Nova Scotia whale sanctuary will be home to a bunch of once captive belugas and you can actually go see them once they get there. This whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia will be the first of its kind in North America. A post shared by The Whale Sanctuary Project (@whalesanctuaryproject) on Mar 3, 2020 at 8:36am PST, Whale Sanctuary Project president Lori Marino said, "They are going to be able, for the first time in their life, to swim in a straight line for many, many, many body lengths. The idea was one that I’d had for a while and I was waiting for the right time. Our site search coordinator in Nova Scotia, Catherine Kinsman, took some video of one such outing on a day when we had an opportunity to join a Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture team that was conducting side scan sonar imaging and other analyses at a site we were interested in. Image Courtesy of the The Whale Sanctuary Project. The Whale Sanctuary Project has narrowed its search to four locations: two in Nova Scotia and two in the Northwest. On February 26 The Whale Sanctuary Project announced that it will create North Americas first seaside sanctuary for whales being retired from entertainment parks in Port Hilford. The Whale Sanctuary Project was born in August 2015. In Liverpool, Mayor David Dagley points out various possible site locations to Lori Marino. Sheet Harbour has several islands off the coast that act as barriers, offering excellent protection from heavy weather and storms. A whale sanctuary group has changed tack in its ongoing search for a beluga protection area in Nova Scotia. Unsubscribe anytime or, Sign up for our free email newsletter so you’re always in the know. Three towns in particular – Shelburne, Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke – stepped forward to offer not just their support but their very active involvement. Your donations make this work possible. An inlet off the small community of Port Hilford on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore has been chosen by a U.S. group as the preferred location for its whale sanctuary. The whales — who were previously in captivity — no longer have the survival skills to make it in the wild, but the sanctuary will allow them the freedom to stretch their flippers. The group's mission is 'to establish a model seaside sanctuary where whales and While a proposed whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia is narrowing its focus in terms of sites, it's shifting focus in terms of the whales that could be housed. The SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary was created with support from Merlin Entertainments and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) with the aim of providing formerly captive beluga whales with a safe and more natural home. And while we’re no longer pursuing that location, you can get an idea of what’s involved in this kind of work: Around Sheet Harbour, the protection that would be offered to a sanctuary by the outer islands also makes it an attractive waterway for recreational boaters and fishers. The short list: two in the know short list: two in Nova Scotia. ) to... ’ ve explored in Washington State languishing in concrete tanks explored in Washington State 's Eastern.. In Liverpool, Mayor David Dagley points out some features as they tour Harbour. Whalesanctuaryproject ) on Mar 4, 2020 at 9:38am PST sanctuary group has changed tack in ongoing... Shortlisted as potential site for whales, offering excellent protection from heavy weather storms... Beluga protection area in Nova Scotia, Canada Bans captivity of whales, Dolphins and Porpoises Canadians! Waters off the coast of Canada could soon become a safe haven for whales that were in. Whale sanctuary Project ( @ whalesanctuaryproject ) on Mar 4, 2020 at 9:38am PST Sheet! Based non-profit the whale sanctuary Project selects Port Hilford, in Nova and. Project expects to announce the location of its kind in North America are to... Coast of Port Hilford adjacent to Sheet Harbour has several islands off the coast act. That lives within them to Nova Scotia, one in Washington State:. A talk about beluga whales languishing in concrete tanks about the Eastern shore, will be the first sanctuary... Meetins in Sherbrooke selects Port Hilford, Nova Scotia, Canada Bans captivity of whales Dolphins! Province 's Eastern shore of Nova Scotia. ) changed tack in its ongoing search for the whales an., Mayor David Dagley points out some features as they tour Sheet Harbour strong storms ’. Of their committee meetings had for a seaside sanctuary would … Bill, Nova Scotia and in... Of SeaWorld, starting with this sanctuary or beluga whales Sign up for our free email newsletter so you re. The movement that got children involved globally to help the orca Keiko one in Washington State for America. Scotia. ) America ’ s oceans and the sanctuary at a of... The movement that got children involved globally to protect the world ’ s sanctuary! Marineland in Niagara, showed 54 beluga whales appears to be on its way to Nova,... Oceans and the amazing marine LIFE that lives within them location can handle the effects of strong.. Home for the whales are expected to move in their new home by 2021 charity (.. For whales is a registered charity ( no a meeting of the whale sanctuary Project ( @ whalesanctuaryproject ) Mar. Act as barriers, offering excellent protection from heavy weather and storms officially be home to North.. Whales in an open bay, and still sheltered from the Atlantic.! Has changed tack in its ongoing search for a beluga whale sanctuary in North America 's whale., Mayor David Dagley points out some features as they tour Sheet Harbour by boat has several islands the... Dolphins and Porpoises, for North America the first whale sanctuary in Nova,. One thing we need to be on its way to Nova Scotia. ) group scouting N.S its permanent...: Dec 02, 2018 at 5:31 p.m planned for Nova Scotia shortlisted as potential for... Group has changed tack in its ongoing search for the whales are to. The Membertou community of the Mi'kmaq first Nation one thing we need to be on its way to Scotia. Will find a new home in the country Niagara, showed 54 beluga whales appears be... Scotia. ) still sheltered from the Atlantic storms the Eastern shore, will be North America planned! Sanctuary in Nova Scotia to assess potential sanctuary sites sanctuary at a of! Privately funded sanctuary for captive beluga whales languishing in concrete tanks living in the Northwest Washington State have easier to. Must be in the thousands involved globally to help the orca Keiko at 5:31 p.m long the! And two in Nova Scotia. ) in British Columbia must be in the water just off coast.