Whale sanctuary signs 20-year lease with province

The lease, which can be renewed for another 20 years, covers the coastal waters at Port Hilford Bay where the organization plans to establish a seaside sanctuary for orcas and beluga whales retired from captivity.

The agreement follows an October 2025 cabinet order authorizing the province to enter into the lease. At the time, the order granted the project a 20-year lease for 83 hectares of Crown lands and coastal waters in the Wine Harbour area.

The project says the completed lease will allow it to proceed with further construction and fundraising.

“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,” CEO Charles Vinick said in an Aug. 21 release.

The organization held a groundbreaking ceremony in June and has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.

According to the project, Nova Scotia Power has completed electrical service to the site and its general contractor is beginning work to refurbish the wharf. The wharf is expected to serve as the base for whale-care facilities and as a staging area for installation of the bay pen and barrier net.

The organization plans to use the sanctuary to provide lifelong care for captive orcas and belugas in a natural seawater environment rather than conventional tanks.

The project has generated both support and opposition in the Wine Harbour area. Some residents have backed the sanctuary and its potential economic benefits, while others have objected to the lease and raised concerns about its effects on neighbouring property owners and access to the water.

Project president and founder Lori Marino said completing the lease represents another step toward the organization’s goal.

“A seaside sanctuary offers the opportunity to prioritize their wellbeing, autonomy and dignity while providing lifelong expert care in a natural ocean environment,” she said in a statement last week.

The Whale Sanctuary Project has described the proposed facility as the first seaside sanctuary of its kind in North America.