slowmotiongli / Depositphotos.com
Plans to create North America’s first whale sanctuary have cleared a major hurdle, with the Nova Scotia government approving a Crown land lease for the project on the province’s Eastern Shore.
The Whale Sanctuary Project, a U.S.-based non-profit, confirmed that the province has authorized a lease for more than 80 hectares of land and water in the Port Hilford area of Guysborough County.
The organization said the approval, which had been pending for over three years, allows it to begin construction and continue fundraising efforts to complete the sanctuary.
“This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary and for the whales,” the group said in a public statement. “We look forward to pressing ahead in every way to establish the Whale Sanctuary.”
The sanctuary is intended to house eight to ten retired whales from marine parks and aquariums, providing a natural environment where they can live under care but outside captivity.
The project has been in development since 2019, but progress stalled as provincial consent was required from nearby property owners — a condition that has now been removed.
The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables confirmed that some details must still be finalized before the lease is issued, including boundaries and pricing. Once completed, the Whale Sanctuary Project plans to purchase an additional 12 hectares of private land and begin infrastructure work, including pier upgrades, net fabrication, and facility construction.
Supporters have praised the province’s decision, including the Canadian group Animal Justice, which said the project offers a “real path to freedom” for whales, and the St. Mary’s River Association, which called it a step toward a more compassionate relationship with nature.
The sanctuary still requires federal approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada before it can begin operations.
