The goal of the proposed sanctuary is to offer captive orcas and beluga whales a natural environment that maximizes their opportunities for autonomy, exploration, play, rest, and socializing.
Considerations as we evaluate any site include the physical and environmental nature of the site itself, and access to fresh water and electric power; whether sanctuary residents might be affected by local wildlife and vice versa; and the concerns of the local community, including commercial and recreational interests.
Sanctuary environment: Instead of being surrounded by sterile concrete tank walls, the whales will live in a dynamic, complex physical world that has a natural sandy shore and is home to many kinds of plants and animals with whom they can interact.
Here are some of the high-level environmental criteria for a whale sanctuary site. (We can be flexible on some of these if there is no negative impact on the whales’ well-being.)
Space: The sanctuary will be a netted off area like a bay or cove. Our sites of interest all have 100 acres (40 hectares) of water space. That’s 484,000 square yards, compared to the 1,100 square yards of the large display tank at a typical high-end marine entertainment park.
Depth: A minimum average depth of 50 feet (15 meters) over roughly half of the space.
Shape: A cove, bay, inlet, series of islands or one island and a mainland coast. The shape can be flexible, but size and shape need to allow for segmentation to separate whales when necessary.
Sites of interest must demonstrate:
- Water temperature range of approximately 0°–20° C and salinity in the range of 24-35 ppm;
- Protection from extreme weather and tides;
- No solid ice over extensive parts of water surface area;
- Avoidance of sewage or pollutants (chemical or acoustic);
- Good flushing rate;
- Accessibility;
- Utilities and infrastructure
- Bottom topography and substrate: no specific kind required.
Sanctuary facilities will include:
- The main enclosure;
- An isolation area for new residents;
- Rehabilitation and veterinary care areas.
Beyond the sanctuary: We are conducting rigorous environmental impact assessments at our locations of interest to ensure that there will be no negative effects on wildlife in and around the sanctuary or in the ocean beyond.
The first phase of building will include necessary infrastructure needed to care for residents. This includes the enclosure barriers, infrastructure, lab, medical and sanitation services, food prep services, security, and animal care staff facilities.
Future phases will provide for internship programs, visitors as appropriate to the location, and the kind of equipment (including land and water-based webcams) that will enhance broad and interactive educational outreach.
21 Comments
As a resident of the Eastern Shore Nova Scotia I can only say how thrilled I am that one of our communities has been selected for this project. We truly have a little bit of paradise here and to share it with the Whale Sanctuary Project only enhances that. I have seen Orcas in the wild of the coast of Norway and many kinds of whales from Cape Cod to Iceland. To have this facility here on the Eastern Shore is a privilege.
I am delighted that so many responsible people are involved in The Whale Sanctuary Project. I love the idea that the whales and dolphins will find peace, solitude, oceans against their bodies, in time capture and feed on fresh fish, the possibility to interact (if not vocally) with wild whales and dolphins. How long will this take to implement? I so wish sooner than later! Best wishes always!
Would love to see this happen! Is SeaWorld apart of this Whale Sanctuary Project?
This is a great idea and would provide the whales with the life they deserve.
We’d be very happy to work with SeaWorld and any other of the marine entertainment parks. But they haven’t taken us up on the offer yet.
Since April, has any of the parks showed signs of openness regarding the sanctuaries? Besides monetary motivations, what do you think is their second biggest concern/opposition to the sanctuaries? Many thanks!!
The second biggest aspect is probably the need to overcome the guilt that’s associated with admitting (to oneself as well as to the public) that it was morally wrong to be keeping these animals in captivity in the first place.
Animal shelters, local humane societies etc. face a similar issue when they make the decision to stop killing the dogs and cats. Even though you can feel good about the fact that you’re doing the right thing, you’re still acknowledging that you should never have been killing them in the first place.
That’s why, in relation to the whales, we focus on the fact that over the years public opinion has changed, rather than on the fundamental moral issues. It’s easier to recognize that there’s a general shift taking place (which is indeed the case) than to argue basic morality questions.
I am for this also I just hope all the aquariums including SeaWorld will join this effort it needs to be done. I think this should have been done a long time ago for the orca’s, dolphins and bluga’s. When I get some more money I will donate to this cause.
What safety measures will be taken, to prevent whales on either side of the net barricades from trying to force there way through the them and becoming entrapped?
The design for the barrier nets are such that the whales cannot become entrapped. The grid size of the net is small so that a whale cannot push its head through the grid nor get its flukes caught in the net. In addition, the net is weighted so that it does not “bag” during ebb tide. The design includes a security buoy line and net outside the primary enclosure net for security purposes and to maintain distance between sanctuary residents and any proximate wild marine mammals.
Looks good to me. How do you ensure animals will not jump the net ?
It will be high enough to ensure the sanctuary area is secure.
Absolutely beautiful. Would love to see this become a reality for all our gorgeous captive cetaceans.
what about pod members “visiting”?
no one is subject to be released back?
There will be a rescue and rehabilitation facility, and any whales who are candidates for release will have the opportunity. For more, check out the FAQ in the “Our Work” section.
This is fantastic news! I love the idea of a joint sanctuary and rehab center for orcas. My partner and I were debating between the concepts of sea sanctuaries and wild release and how feasible either one would be. So happy to hear that there can indeed be a marriage of the two.
Looks fantastic so far but I think the viewing platform should be much bigger!
When it’s built, and depending on the actual location, it will certainly be as big as it needs to be.
I think this will be wonderful and long overdue.
I so agree, beautiful isnt it? Please please please choose Washington, our Native peoples and animal activists have fought long and hard to return our whales to us.
Yes.
Orca Awareness Month B.C. West best.
Well, to be more specific, the southern resident killers whales swim between B.C. and the U.S.A. They are seen off the coast of Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Recently, they have been spotted as far south as the coast of central California and as far north as the coast of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. During the spring, summer, and fall, the southern residents tend to travel around the inland waterways of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and southern Georgia Strait. Little is known about their range and movements during the winter months. Only one captured whale, Lolita, from this population is still alive today, held at Miami Seaquarium.
Not all orcas in captivity are from this population – multiples are from Russian and other European waters, as well as alot are now part of the captive-bred population. There is still one captive orca – Corky – from the Northern Resident Killer Whale population off of northern Vancouver Island, B.C.