About Us

The SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary was created with the aim of providing beluga whales with a safe and more natural home, advancing knowledge through research and education, and supporting protection of wild belugas.

By leading the way and demonstrating an alternative way of caring for these beautiful animals we want to encourage others to consider sanctuaries as a viable alternative. This change could potentially transform the lives of not only beluga whales but over 3,000 other whales and dolphins currently housed in traditional facilities under human care or performing in shows around the world.

Our Sanctuary’s first residents, Little White and Little Grey, travelled 6,000 miles from their previous home in a Shanghai aquarium via air, land and sea to the Sanctuary, located in a large, natural bay in the Westman Islands, just off the south coast of Iceland. 

The Sanctuary also includes a Puffin Rescue Centre and local species aquarium in the Visitor Centre. The Puffin Rescue Centre provides support for community puffling rescue and release, as well as long-term care for non-releasable, rescued puffins and pufflings. The Visitor Centre is open seasonally and all admission revenue goes directly to providing for the animals in our care.