Members of the Marine Connectivity Working Group have led a new report calling on countries to protect “blue corridors” as the migration superhighways allowing marine megafauna to move between critical habitat areas. Released by WWF, Protecting Blue Corridors; Challenges and Solutions for Migratory Whales Navigating National and International Seas draws on recent advancements in the field of marine connectivity science and conservation, presenting a global view of blue corridors for whales. By combining 30 years of satellite tracking data from over 1,000 tagging devices and 50 different research institutions, the authors mapped whale movement through international waters, national seas and coastal areas, and between key breeding and foraging locations.
With its focus on whales, the report outlines the urgent need and compounding benefits of cooperative trans-boundary, regional, and international protection and policy for blue corridors. A main message of the report is that whales function as an ‘umbrella species’ in marine conservation, meaning that when their critical habitats and corridors are protected or managed effectively, the results benefit a myriad of other marine species and ecosystems. This report lays a strong foundation for engaging with policymakers through the latest and most comprehensive whale migration data and threats, and can be used as a methodological reference by scientists who seek to map other important marine migratory species movements to inform conservation measures.
