Last Chance for Animals (LCA) has joined a lawsuit launched byFriends of Animals against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to stop the export of five Beluga whalesfrom Marineland Canada in Niagra Falls, Ontario to Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. LCA is joining the lawsuit as co-plaintiff.
On August 27, 2020, NOAA Fisheries approved Mystic Aquarium's proposal to import five Beluga whales from Marineland Canada to Dear Mystic Aquarium for scientific research. The permit is valid until August 31, 2025, and although breeding is prohibited under the permit, these restrictions only last five years until the permit's expiration date. Moving the whales to Mystic would taken them out of the important, hard-fought protections of Canada's Bill S-203 and leave them vulnerable to breeding and exploitation.
The Canadian government has not announced a decision on whether it will allow Marineland to export the whales. See below on how you can help!
"Transferring these intelligent and sentient animals from one aquarium to another only benefit the aquariums," said Chris DeRose, President of LCA. "The best, most humane course of action would be for the whales to have one final transfer to a sanctuary, where they can live out their days free from discomfort, captive breeding, and research."
LCA strongly believes whales should not be kept in captivity and is calling on the governments of both Canada and the United States to prevent this harmful transfer of Beluga whales from Marineland Canada to Mystic Aquarium.
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For the animals,
Campaigns Department
Last Chance for Animals
310-271-6096 x27 [email protected]
