PRESS STATEMENT
Whale Sanctuary Project signs 20-year lease with Province of Nova Scotia, advancing North America’s first seaside whale sanctuary
Long-term marine lease provides certainty for the next phase of construction and capital fundraising.
WINE HARBOUR, NOVA SCOTIA (August 21, 2026) – The Whale Sanctuary Project has reached another major milestone after the Province of Nova Scotia formally executed a 20-year lease, renewable for an additional 20 years, for the marine sanctuary area at Port Hilford Bay in Indian Harbour on the province’s Eastern Shore, securing long-term stewardship of the coastal waters that will become the world’s first seaside sanctuary for orcas and beluga whales retired from captivity.
The agreement follows an October 2025 Order in Council (OIC 2025-288) approved by the Executive Council (Cabinet) of Premier Tim Houston, authorizing the Province to enter into the lease with the Whale Sanctuary Project.
Today’s announcement builds on the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in June and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, reflecting continued momentum toward creating a new model of care for whales retiring from marine parks.
“This is a landmark moment, not only for the Whale Sanctuary Project, but for everyone who believes there can be a better future for whales living in captivity,” said Charles Vinick, Chief Executive Officer of the Whale Sanctuary Project. “The lease provides the certainty we’ve been working toward for years. It allows us to move confidently into the next phase of construction, continue building the infrastructure needed to care for whales, and demonstrate that sanctuaries are no longer simply an idea, but an achievable reality.”
“This is a landmark moment for everyone who believes there can be a better future for whales living in captivity.”
Nova Scotia Power has completed bringing electrical service to the sanctuary site, and our general contractor is now beginning work to refurbish the wharf. The wharf will serve as the hub for the sanctuary’s whale care facilities and the staging area for installation of the bay pen and sanctuary barrier net that will provide whales with a safe, natural coastal environment.
The sanctuary will give retired whales the opportunity to experience natural seawater, tides and weather in a space more than 100 times larger than any tank, while still receiving lifelong expert veterinary and animal care.
“The execution of this lease represents much more than the completion of an administrative process,” said Dr. Lori Marino, President and Founder of the Whale Sanctuary Project. “It reflects a growing recognition that whales who have spent their lives in captivity deserve something fundamentally different. A seaside sanctuary offers the opportunity to prioritize their wellbeing, autonomy and dignity while providing lifelong expert care in a natural ocean environment.”
The Whale Sanctuary Project thanks the Province of Nova Scotia, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, local community members, donors, volunteers and project partners whose collaboration has helped transform the project from vision to reality and continues to build momentum toward welcoming the sanctuary’s first whale residents.
To support the Whale Sanctuary Project and help build a seaside sanctuary for whales retired from captivity, visit whalesanctuaryproject.org/donate.
About the Whale Sanctuary Project
The Whale Sanctuary Project is establishing a coastal sanctuary in Nova Scotia, Canada, to provide retired captive orcas and beluga whales with a safe, natural environment for lifelong care. The organization is building the infrastructure needed to support humane, legally compliant transitions out of captivity in aquariums and entertainment parks.
Media Contact:
Kari Vierimaa
Vierimaa Consulting Inc.
kari@vierimaaconsulting.com