The group creating a Nova Scotia-based coastal refuge for captive whales from entertainment parks says results from a recent study will help it “chart a path to final site development.”
The Whale Sanctuary Project posted the update on its website Tuesday, explaining it had received results from environmental studies conducted at its Port Hilford Bay sanctuary site. The most recent study was the third in a series of environmental site assessments (ESAs). It involved collecting samples of soil from the seabed for laboratory analysis and was undertaken by divers in July.
On its website, the non-profit group said the environmental assessment series was important because it relates to historical gold mining that occurred in the province from the 1880s through to the 1930s.
“We understood, when we selected Port Hilford Bay as our location-of-choice for a whale sanctuary in North America, that there were remnants of gold mine tailings on the 30 acres of sanctuary lands,” the group said.
“This meant we needed to study soil and water samples to see what mitigation measures might be necessary regarding heavy metals — specifically mercury and arsenic — that are routinely found in those tailings.”
Results from land and water studies
Before the most recent environmental study of submerged seabed soils, studies were undertaken of the sanctuary lands along the shore and of the ocean water and freshwater streams around the bay.
The group said an environmental site assessment of water throughout the bay determined it was clean with no traces of heavy metals or other contamination.
The sanctuary itself encompasses more than 100 acres of water space with depths up to 18 metres and is intended to provide a home to orcas and belugas housed in separate areas.
Samples taken by consultants during the second assessment examining the onshore sanctuary lands found “no concerning level of mercury.”
“There is an area around an old stamp mill on land that has levels of arsenic that will require us to cap any areas that are likely to be disturbed by construction,” the group added.
Study of submerged seabed soils found arsenic in rock crabs
The third and most recent environmental site assessment of submerged soils in the seabed did find levels of arsenic sequestered in the soils, but found no “concerning” mercury levels.
“The concern about submerged soils is whether people or whales would be potentially harmed by the presence of the level of arsenic in the submerged soil, primarily through ingesting invertebrates that inhabit the ocean floor,” noted the group.
To help determine that, studies were conducted for three invertebrate species — clams, mussels, and rock crabs.
Clams weren’t found in any areas of Port Hilford Bay where whales could come into contact with them. While the mussels tested were deemed acceptable for human consumption, levels of arsenic in rock crabs were determined to be above provincial guidelines for human consumption.
“So, we are continuing to research how this may apply to whales since different species of mammals metabolize minerals in different ways,” the group wrote.
Next steps
Next steps involve working with a site professional to develop a site plan that includes mitigation. The group said recommended mitigation on sanctuary lands includes capping areas that may be disturbed by construction work for buildings and parking with soil, gravel, or paving layers.
“Regarding submerged soils and the possibility of whales ingesting an animal that has elevated levels of any metal of concern, we will be engaging toxicologists to investigate whether there is any risk that the whales could ingest a level that could be harmful and if so, what mitigation may be needed in submerged soil,” the group said.
“We’ll continue to update you as we finalize plans for any required mitigation work and as we press ahead toward final site development.”
3,000 whales and dolphins in captivity worldwide
There are an estimated 3,000 whales and dolphins in captivity around the world. They include 60 orcas and more than 300 belugas held in marine parks and aquariums.
In a frequently asked questions page on the group’s website, it notes that whale sanctuaries “are in their formative years,” and work they’re undertaking “will be of value not only to the sanctuary in Nova Scotia, but to the many more that are needed across the globe.”
When it comes to cost, the group’s original estimate for the creation of a Nova Scotia coastal sanctuary was $12 to $15 million U.S. But until it has firm costs for the net, bay pen, and installation, it isn’t a firm number.
Ongoing care of the whales is estimated at $1.5 to $2 million per year. The group said that will be covered through endowments, donations, and other opportunities such as educational materials and programs.
The seemingly obvious nature (at least to those who live in NS) of the harshness of the North Atlantic and what we all have seen it do to aquaculture infrastructure is that this is a facility that will only serve as a temporary holding facility until they inevitably ‘go free’ after the first failure and no future permits are issued. I don’t get how you could look at the entirety of aquatic locations in all of North America and come up with Port Hilford. Like there’s not better place in all of the calm sheltered ice free waters of the west coast or anywhere else on the eastern seaboard? I’m not a pessimistic person but this seems like the classic eastern shore ‘outsiders come in and show the locals how little they know about where they live’ grift.
I have not seen any evidence of there being existing whale sanctuaries with tested, tried and true infrastructure that has withstood the conditions that we have here.
Beyond those seemingly obvious and seemingly crucial points, there seems to be about 8-10 acres of that 100acres that is dry at high tide. So suddenly 12 hours of the day you only have a 90 acre sanctuary and if that 10 acres is that shallow is it really available for large whales at high tide anyway?
It’s not really fair to put them side by side but for context the entire budget for wildlife conservation work by non-profits in Nova Scotia (not including land trusts) is a few million dollars spread among a handful of non-profits each year to try to stem biodiversity losses and keep species from going extinct for the entirety of terrestrial Nova Scotia.
Now suddenly there will be 2 million dollars a year just to keep some whales alive (at no benefit to the biodiversity or ecology of Nova Scotia ecosystems)…and likely to the detriment of that local ecosystem in Wine Harbour. Just like a fish farm there’s no whale toilets…it all goes down to the bottom and creates dead zones. Whales can live in captivity for decades. With inflation 2 million dollars today is going to be about 5 million dollars a year by the end of the life of the whales and probably anywhere from 100million to 150million dollars or more over the next 40 to 50 years to keep whales alive here for the next several decades.
Honestly, I wish the people who fundraise the money for these projects could direct their abilities to conservation biology and stemming biodiversity loss because the rest of the conservation world is floundering with a pittance of funding each year while species go extinct… and there’s gobs of money floating around for wildlife rehab and sanctuary work. It tugs at the heartstrings but it mostly does little to nothing to stem the biodiversity losses. This group according to it’s tax returns is taking in and spending over a million dollars a year without even having a sanctuary yet!
Lots of questions and lots of concerns for a project like this.
I think this is important work.