WHALE SANCTUARY PROJECT

To create and operate a gold-standard coastal 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. It is being designed to serve as a model for many more that can then be built all over the world in the coming years.

As the first sanctuary of its kind anywhere in the world, this is a pioneering effort that began with a two-year search on both sides of the North American continent for the most suitable location. Everything we learn, as we complete each stage of the project, is not only essential to the construction and operation of this sanctuary; it will also act as a blueprint to inform the creation of other much-needed sanctuaries for captive cetaceans throughout the world.

In January, 2020, having completed a comprehensive search, we announced that we had selected Port Hilford, Nova Scotia as the best site for a coastal cetacean sanctuary.

Our objective is to welcome whales by the end of 2023 and to transport the first whales as soon as possible after that. Of course, in any new, pioneering effort, there are always considerations that require adjusting our schedule as we go along. (See the regular updates on the website at www.whalesanctuary.org for progress reports.)

OTHER KEY PROGRAMS

Through our Whale Aid Programs, we assist in marine mammal rescues and work with governments, corporations and NGOs to bring an end to keeping whales and dolphins in captivity.

Through our research, regular online webinars, and work with schools we advance whale and dolphin science and public education.

1. Engaging with the local community by establishing an operations and visitors center, a community liaison committee, a social media presence and twice-monthly updates in the local newspaper. (Completed)
2. Completing the required two-year analysis of the waters in and around the sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay to document water depths and pressures through the seasons. Other analyses include testing the water chemistry, salinity, and temperature gradients; studying currents, tides, waves and surges; and determining optimum locations on the seabed for anchoring the sanctuary net structure. These studies give us a comprehensive understanding of the environment for the whales, as well as providing data to government agencies for the many permits required for a project of this magnitude.
3. Completing the analysis of soil and rock in lands that border the sanctuary waters. As well as providing data to government agencies for the necessary permits, these studies inform our decisions for siting of sanctuary buildings, infrastructure, and placement of each end of the sanctuary net structure.
4. Obtaining offer of lease from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, making available to the sanctuary a total water space of 200 acres. (Completed)
5. Engaging with architects and engineering contractors for the establishing of sanctuary structures and infrastructure.
6. Broadening fundraising campaign from operational costs to capital costs of building the sanctuary and ensuring long term care of the whales.
7. Developing protocols for assessing whale candidacy for transfer to the sanctuary.
8. Engaging with marine entertainment parks and aquariums to begin selection of whales who are potential candidates for transfer to the sanctuary.
9. Developing and enacting protocols for transfer to the sanctuary.
10. Eventually creating a public Interpretive Center.

Our founder and president, Dr. Lori Marino, is a neuroscientist and expert in animal behavior and intelligence, formerly on the faculty of Emory University. She is internationally known for her work on the evolution of the brain and intelligence in dolphins and whales (as well as primates and farmed animals).

Our executive director, Charles Vinick, brings extensive experience in environmental policy, project management and government relations. He shepherded the growth of the Cousteau Society and served as director of the Keiko Project, reintroducing to the wild the captive orca made famous through the "Free Willy" films.

Our staff and advisors bring expertise to every aspect of our mission.

Note: The Whale Sanctuary is a unique project. There is no model for it to follow and there are no existing standards for whale or dolphin sanctuaries. As such, we are sharing details of all our methodology and plans the Global Federation of Sanctuaries and any other accrediting agencies so that, from beginning to end, there is a full record of what is involved in establishing a sanctuary. That is what we mean when we say that our goal is to be the gold standard for future sanctuaries.

By the end of 2022, we will have completed the two-year environmental analysis of sanctuary waters.

We are close to completing the analysis of soil and rock that make up sanctuary lands.
We have received the offer of lease from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, making available to the sanctuary a total water space of 200 acres.

We have completed fundraising for the purchase of sanctuary lands.

We are working with architects and engineering contractors for the establishing of sanctuary structures and infrastructure.

In October 2021, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia led the opening of our Operations & Visitors Centre in Sherbrooke, NS. We maintain close relations with community, provincial, federal and tribal authorities.
We have purchased the work boat that will be used to complete environmental studies, for construction of the sanctuary’s perimeter net, and for maintaining other structures on the water.

Since the Whale Sanctuary Project is a U.S. non-profit organization, we have also incorporated Whale Sanctuary Canada, among whose board members is Hon. Wilfred Moore, who, as Senator Moore, introduced Senate Bill S-203, which in 2019 was passed into law by an overwhelming vote in Parliament as the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act. (Several Whale Sanctuary team members testified at the Senate hearings.)

WHALE AID PROGRAMS

A major example of our Whale Aid programs was Whale Aid Russia, the largest whale rescue in history. The Whale Sanctuary Project worked with the Russian government and Russian animal protection groups to return to the ocean 10 orcas and 87 beluga whales who had been captured illegally for sale to marine entertainment parks in China. On November 10th, 2019, the last group of whales were back where they belonged and the notorious “whale jail” was finally closed.

Our major Whale Aid program of 2022 is in support of the orca Tokitae (better known by her stage name “Lolita”) at the Miami Seaquarium. The new owners of the Seaquarium have retired her from display and are working with non-profit groups to determine what will offer her the highest quality of life going forward. Our primary roles in this are a) providing operational and logistics advice and expertise for purposes of addressing Tokitae’s health and welfare needs.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

We work closely with teachers and students to bring knowledge and understanding of cetaceans to people young and old.

An example of this in 2022 was at Schluter Elementary School in Haslet, Texas, where teachers worked with over a hundred 4th and 5th grade students on their “Showcase Art, Not Whales & Dolphins” art show fundraiser in support of the Whale Sanctuary Project.