Permit to Import 5 Beluga Whales for Scientific Research (File No. 22629, Mystic Aquarium)
Summary
Chronology
On August 27, 2020, NOAA Fisheries issued Permit No. 22629 to Mystic Aquarium to import five captive-born beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) for scientific research pursuant to Section 104(c) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The whales were imported from Marineland of Canada (Niagara Falls, Ontario) to Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut on May 14 and 15, 2021. Subsequent amendments to the permit authorized the substitution of three beluga whales, approval of a breeding prevention plan, approval of the use of oral contraceptives for “Kharabali (NOA0010671), “Sahara” (NOA0010683) and “Jetta” (NOA0010684), and a new Responsible Party and Attending Veterinarian.
On August 6, 2021, the whale identified as “Havok” (NOA0010685) died and research activities were suspended. A second whale, “Havana” (NOA0010675) died on February 11, 2022. On December 11, 2023, a third whale, “Kharabali," died. Since “Havok’s” death, all research activities have been suspended until NOAA Fisheries authorizes research to resume. After careful consideration and review in consultation with veterinarians and USDA/APHIS Animal Care officials, NMFS determined the whale illnesses and mortalities were not caused by research activities. Research was authorized to resume on August 15, 2025, under an amended and extended permit, No. 22629-04.
Relevant documents are provided below under Supporting Materials. Additional application attachments can be viewed online.
Permitted Research
The purpose of the scientific research is to conduct health studies that are intended to contribute knowledge and inform management and recovery of beluga whale populations in the wild including the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale distinct population segment and the depleted Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River beluga whale stock. The MMPA permit is valid through August 31, 2026.
Public Hearing
NOAA Fisheries held a public hearing related to the original permit application on November 18, 2019. A transcript of the hearing is provided below under Supporting Materials.
Public Comments
The public comment period for the original permit ended on December 2, 2019. Those public comments may be viewed via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and entering NOAA-NMFS-2019-0113 in the keyword search.
Federal Register
Supporting Materials
- Permit No. 22629-04 Minor Amendment (PDF, 28 pages)
- Permit No. 22629-04 Recommendation Memo (PDF, 8 pages)
- Year4 Annual Report (PDF, 11 pages)
- Permit No. 22629-03 Minor Amendment (PDF, 24 pages)
- Kharabali's Death (PDF, 11 pages)
- Year3 Annual Report (PDF, 17 pages)
- Year2 Annual Report (PDF, 20 pages)
- Year1 Annual Report Revised (PDF, 32 pages)
- Year1 Annual Report (PDF, 37 pages)
- Permit No. 22629-02 Minor Amendment (PDF, 24 pages)
- Breeding Prevention Plan and Contraceptive Approvals (PDF, 8 pages)
- Mystic's Requests for Contraceptive Use (PDF, 12 pages)
- Havana's Death (PDF, 19 pages)
- Havok's Death (PDF, 12 pages)
- Permit No. 22629-01 Minor Amendment (PDF, 6 pages)
- Permit No. 22629-01 and Plan Recommendation Memo (PDF, 7 pages)
- Mystic’s submitted Breeding Prevention Plan and Minor Amendment Request (PDF, 4…
- Permit No. 22629 with Appendices (PDF, 29 pages)
- Recommendation Memorandum (PDF, 48 pages)
- Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (PDF, 64 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Acoustic Study (PDF, 18 pages)
- Mystic Responses –Objectives, Justification, and Methods (PDF, 22 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Take Numbers and Additional Questions (PDF, 8 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Issuance Criteria (PDF, 45 pages)
- Mystic Responses – Final Questions (PDF, 2 pages)
- Mystic Acoustic Technical Guidance User Spreadsheet (PDF, 9 pages)
- 22629 Public Hearing Transcript (PDF, 141 pages)
- 22629 Revised Final Application (PDF, 80 pages)