Growing evidence shows that recovering whale populations are essential for healthy oceans, with benefits for other marine life and people. Blue corridors are vital migratory pathways that connect the feeding, breeding, and resting habitats whales rely on. Over the last five years, WWF and partners have mapped global migrations, produced reports, identified regional risks and opportunities, and developed BlueCorridors.org—an open platform and initiative with the marine science community that visualizes threats and priority measures to guide marine spatial planning and transboundary action. 

 

This session focuses on how the blue corridors approach is being implemented in practice across the Southern Hemisphere through creative collaborations with local communities, scientists, NGOs, industry, and governments. We highlight opportunities to better conserve critical habitats and reduce risks along blue corridors to safeguard our ocean giants. 

 

We will explore concrete steps to integrate whale migratory routes into shipping management, bycatch reduction, Marine Protected Area design, and national and regional policies to better safeguard populations some still recovering from commercial whaling. Participants will discuss new opportunities to improve marine connectivity for whales in the Southwest Atlantic, anchored in the Action Plan for the Protection and Conservation of South Atlantic Whales (CMS Resolution 12.17). By linking science, policy, and digital platforms such as BlueCorridors.org with lessons from cross-seascape collaboration, the event aims to catalyse coordinated, implementable strategies for conserving whales and their ecosystems, aligned with the UN BBNJ (high seas) Treaty and global ocean and biodiversity goals.