Whale Sanctuary Project

• Five things about Nova Scotia’s decision to approve Whale Sanctuary Project

  The Nova Scotia government has approved plans for construction of North America’s first coastal refuge for whales and dolphins retired from marine theme parks.

  Canada

  Oct 22, 2025
  
• Nova Scotia government gives Whale Sanctuary Project approval to build coastal refuge

  Organizers behind a plan to establish North America’s first coastal refuge for captive whales say the Nova Scotia government has granted them approval.

  Environment

  Oct 22, 2025
  
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• Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia renews bid to get two whales from France

  The group behind a project to build North America's first coastal refuge for captive whales in Nova Scotia has renewed its bid to provide a seaside sanctuary to two killer whales.

  Canada

  Apr 22, 2025
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• Lack of consent stalls plans for North America’s first whale sanctuary in Nova Scotia

  An ambitious plan in Nova Scotia to build North America's first coastal refuge for captive whales may have hit a dead end.

  Canada

  Mar 19, 2025
• France rejects bid to move two killer whales to proposed refuge in Nova Scotia

  The group behind a plan to build a coastal refuge in Nova Scotia for captive whales says its bid to provide sanctuary to two orcas from a theme park in France has been rejected.

  Canada

  Jan 28, 2025
• Key testing completed at Nova Scotia’s proposed retirement home for captive whales

  Soil samples were taken from the bottom of a cove south of Port Hilford, where the plan is to build a 40-hectare enclosure for orcas and belugas retired from marine parks.

  Environment

  Dec 6, 2023
• Nova Scotia’s retirement home for captive whales facing obstacles, delays: documents

  Organizers behind the U.S.-based Whale Sanctuary Project had originally predicted the site on Nova Scotia's rugged eastern shore could be ready to receive whales this year.

  Canada

  Oct 23, 2022
• North America’s first whale sanctuary is taking shape in rural Nova Scotia

  The Whale Sanctuary Project is expected to officially open its visitor and operations centre in Sherbrooke, N.S.

  Canada

  Oct 29, 2021
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• Group narrows search for beluga retirement site to two sites off Nova Scotia 

  Lori Marino, president of the non-profit group, says a formal proposal won't be submitted to regulators until more research is completed and community support is secured.

  Environment

  Dec 6, 2019
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• U.S.-based animal protection group hoping to create whale retirement sanctuary in Nova Scotia

  The Whale Sanctuary Project says it is holding public information meetings in Dartmouth, Liverpool, Port Hawkesbury, Sherbrooke and Sheet Harbour to identify a possible seaside sanctuary for beluga whales freed from entertainment parks.

  Canada

  Jan 30, 2019