HALIFAX — French government officials met today in Paris with a U.S.-based group that wants to move France’s last two captive whales to a proposed coastal refuge in Nova Scotia.

No decisions were made because French officials are also considering moving the two orcas to Spain’s Loro Parque zoo on the Canary Islands.

At the conclusion of the meeting, France’s minister for ecological transition said a final decision would be made by the end of March.

Mathieu Lefevre issued a statement saying the government is seeking guarantees about animal welfare and legal matters and is considering the impact on local communities.

Lefevre says the meeting gave the government the opportunity to further analyze the proposal put forward by the Whale Sanctuary Project, which wants to build a 40-hectare seaside pen near Wine Harbour in eastern Nova Scotia.

The proposal was first announced in 2020, but the non-profit has yet to start construction and also needs a number of permits from the Canadian government.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 16, 2026.

The Canadian Press