In Eastern Nova Scotia, a coalition of commercial fishers, represented by the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen's Association, has expressed significant concerns regarding the establishment of a whale sanctuary intended to house retired marine theme park whales. The project, which aims to create North America's first coastal refuge of this kind, was granted a 20-year lease by the provincial government for 83 hectares of Crown land and adjacent coastal waters, an event that has alarmed the fishing community, which previously did not believe the plan would materialize.

Ginny Boudreau, the association's manager, noted that the realization of the Whale Sanctuary Project sparked the group's apprehension, particularly around access to the bay where the sanctuary is proposed to be built. The enclosure, designed to span 40 hectares and anchored to the sea floor, is seen as potentially limiting local fishers' operations. As they contemplate the implications of the project, the fishers worry about both immediate access to their fishing grounds and the long-term impact that the presence of foreign whales could have on the local marine ecosystem.

Local fishers fear that the introduction of these whales could pose significant risks as they might carry diseases or parasites that could spread to indigenous populations. The situation underscores a larger tension between evolving conservation efforts and the economic realities faced by local fishing industries. As the project moves forward, there is an urgent need for dialogue between the whale sanctuary's proponents and the fishing community to address these concerns and seek potential solutions that could benefit both parties.