Calls for transparency on Marineland's dwindling beluga whale population grow louder as ministry inspection continues

For years, the park’s beluga population hovered in the mid-fifties. Now, many advocates believe that number is no higher than 40. Records of mammal deaths at the park are not available to the public.

The amusement park and aquarium has not been able to breed any new belugas since the passing of federal law (Bill S-203) in 2019 that prohibits the capture and breeding of whales and dolphins in captivity — something animal advocates say once masked the number of belugas dying at the park each year.

When a whale dies or is transferred to another facility, Marineland is required to retain paperwork on the incident under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act and make it available for authorities to inspect. The information is not accessible by the public.

The Animal Welfare Services (AWS) department at the Ministry of the Solicitor General has declined to provide the beluga death reports to CTV News Toronto, citing an ongoing inspection at Marineland that began early this year.

For years, the park’s beluga population hovered in the mid-fifties.