IMATA Needs Your Help

URGENT: Opportunity to be Heard!

On, Tuesday, 1 October 2019, NOAA Fisheries published a notice of an application from Mystic Aquarium to import five captive-born beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Marineland of Canada to Mystic Aquarium for scientific research purposes.

These beluga whales were born at Marineland of Canada and are progeny of beluga whales that originated from the depleted Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River stock. The purpose of the five-year research is to contribute knowledge and inform management and recovery of beluga whale populations in the wild. The proposed research would occur year-round over a five-year period at Mystic Aquarium. If deemed in the best interest of an individual imported beluga whale or the captive U.S. beluga whale population for social, health, or welfare reasons, Mystic Aquarium proposes to move animals to Georgia Aquarium, which has agreed to participate in the research studies. Incidental to the research, these imported beluga whales would be on public display, and natural breeding is proposed in the application.

The application and Federal Register notice are viewable online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/permit-application-import-5-beluga-whales-scientific-research-file-no-22629-mystic-aquarium.

Comments may be submitted electronically via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. Enter ‘NOAA-NMFS-2019-0113’ in the keyword search. Then, locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the “Comment Now” icon on the right of that line. The comment period ends at 11:59 pm ET, December 2, 2019.

IMATA members are the experts in the field of marine mammal care and research and NOAA needs to hear from people like you who believe that IMATA members and our colleagues should be able to continue research to make strides in beluga research and conservation.

We are recommending that our members submit a personal comment in support of this permit application during the public comment period that is open from now until 2 December 2019.

We have made it easy for you to submit a personal comment - choose an option below:

OPTION 1: Write Your Own Comment

OPTION 2: Submit a Pre-Prepared Comment

Step 1:

Step 2:

Pre-Prepared Comment
I am writing in support of Mystic Aquarium’s application for a research permit to import five endangered beluga whales from Marineland in Ontario, Canada. The fact that these animals were born in human care should make this a very simple decision for those reviewing the request. Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium is a global leader in beluga research, and NOAA’s approval of this permit will ensure that the aquarium can continue its non-invasive research of belugas, resulting in positive outcomes for both stable and endangered populations. Additionally, given that Mystic Aquarium’s beluga habitat is the largest in the United States, and that the organization has accreditations from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the American Humane Association (AHA), and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA), the welfare of the animals being imported will be exemplary both in transport as well as in long term care. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in what is an invaluable component of beluga whale conservation.