Nova Scotia leases Crown land for future whale sanctuary
The Nova Scotia government has leased more than 80 hectares of land and waters off the province’s east coast to a group that wants to create North America’s first whale sanctuary.
The US non-profit Whale Sanctuary Project said the approval, which has been pending for more than two years, clears the way to begin construction and raise the remaining capital needed to complete the project.
“We are grateful to the Nova Scotia government and the Minister of Natural Resources,” the group said in a statement late Tuesday.
“This is a great day for the whale sanctuary and for the whales. We look forward to moving forward every step of the way to establish the whale sanctuary.”
Such a lease at first seemed impossible, because some property owners in the Port Hilford, NS, area that would be affected were refusing to give consent, which the province required.
It appears as if the province has decided to waive that requirement. Last week, then-Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton said there were still some “holds” among property owners. But the order-in-council approving the Crown land lease shows that at the time of those comments, Rushton had already recommended to cabinet that the deal go ahead.
The Department of Natural Resources has not yet responded to CBC’s request for comment. Rushton was ousted from cabinet On Tuesday.
The Whale Sanctuary Project announced its plans for a sanctuary in Guisborough County, NS, five years ago. The group wants to care for eight to 10 marine mammals being retired from parks and aquariums.
But the plan has faced significant opposition, skepticism and logistical hurdles.
Marineland, the shuttered Ontario theme park that wants to rehabilitate its 30 remaining belugas, has said the site is not suitable for its whales because of contamination from historic gold mining.The whale sanctuary denies the claim.
Some locals have said they do not want their water access limited by the nets the group wants to install to create pens for the whales. Some people also say they are concerned about increased traffic if the site becomes a tourist destination. The whale sanctuary project has said it does not intend to welcome visitors on a regular basis.
In its statement Tuesday, the group said it would have more updates to share “in the coming days,” including details about the whales it will adopt and its financing.
The group estimates the cost of the project at $20 million, which will be raised from private donors. As of earlier this month, it had not been fully funded.
The project will require approval from the federal Fisheries and Transportation departments.
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