HALIFAX — The Whale Sanctuary project, a proposed underwater enclosure that would occupy approximately 40 hectares off Nova Scotia's eastern shore, will require up to $15 million if it hopes to open by the end of summer 2026.
Charles Vinik, CEO of the American company, says the project currently has about $2 million in funding, but he hopes to raise another $13 million to $15 million to pay for fencing, pier repairs and other basic infrastructure.
In a fundraising email sent on Saturday, the group shared a statement from the French government saying it intends to work with a project to send two captive killer whales to a proposed sanctuary from Marineland in Antibes.
France said in a statement that the sanctuary project is the most trustworthy and ethical place for the whales and meets the requirements for their safety and well-being.
Vinik says that while both Canada and France have laws prohibiting the captivity of cetaceans such as dolphins and killer whales for entertainment, there is no legislation detailing what to do with animals currently in captivity.
In October, the Nova Scotia government granted the Whale Sanctuary Project a 20-year lease on 83 hectares of Crown land and coastal waters near Wine Harbour, North Carolina.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2025.
