The plan to build North America's first wild refuge for whales retired from marine parks was poised to take a big step forward Friday in a remote corner of northeastern Nova Scotia.
The Whale Sanctuary Project is expected to officially open its visitor and operations centre in Sherbrooke, N.S., marking the first time the U.S.-based conservation group has moved from the planning phase to actually building something.
"It's a good opportunity for a new business to come into the municipality," said Greg Wier, the warden of the rural municipality that includes Sherbrooke. "For the most part, everybody is happy that it's coming ... I don't think there's any opposition.""There's a lot of public outcry for these whales being held in little pens," he said in an interview this week.
Despite public support, questions remain about the project, particularly when it comes to rough weather, the accumulation of whale waste and the potential for escapes. "The data suggest that those risks are extremely low," Vinnick said. "Generally, pathogens only are transmitted through physical contact, not through water-borne passage." The fact that migrating whales typically remain offshore means there will be limited interaction, he added.
About 200 belugas and 50 orcas are being kept in marine parks and aquariums around the world, though precise figures have been difficult to come by since entrepreneurs in China started building marine parks and importing whales from Russia. The Marineland Park in Niagara Falls, Ont., has about 40 belugas and Canada's lone captive killer whale, Kiska.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North America’s first whale sanctuary is taking shape in rural Nova ScotiaThe Whale Sanctuary Project is poised to take a big step forward Friday in a remote corner of northeastern Nova Scotia
Read more »
North America’s first whale sanctuary is taking shape in rural Nova Scotia - Halifax | Globalnews.caThe Whale Sanctuary Project is expected to officially open its visitor and operations centre in Sherbrooke, N.S.
Read more »
B.C. is first in North America to offer COVID-19 booster shot to general populationUntil now, B.C. had followed other Canadian provinces and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in offering the third dose to those in long\u002Dterm care facilities, seniors and those in high\u002Drisk settings or who are immune\u002Dcompromised.
Read more »
Government says North Koreans coming to Canada under new scheme must be vetted firstCanadian government says North Korean refugees must be screened before they will be admitted to country
Read more »
Seoul: North Korea's Kim Jong Un lost 20 kilograms but remains healthyNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently lost about 20 kilograms, but remains healthy and is trying to boost public loyalty to him in the face of worsening economic problems, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Thursday.
Read more »
North America’s first whale sanctuary is taking shape in rural Nova ScotiaThe Whale Sanctuary Project is poised to take a big step forward Friday in a remote corner of northeastern Nova Scotia
Read more »