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MAPPING LIFELINES: PROTECTING WHALE MIGRATION CORRIDORS IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS

WWF-Australia’s mission to protect marine biodiversity took a major leap forward in 2025 with the launch of the world’s first interactive map of whale migration routes, BlueCoridoors.org. Showcasing science-based conservation, innovation, collaboration and transparency, this initiative supports our broader goal of safeguarding ocean ecosystems for future generations.

In collaboration with over 50 global research groups, the global WWF Network released BlueCorridors.org, a digital platform that visualises more than 3.2 million kilometres of satellite tracking data from over 1,400 migratory whales.

These animated maps trace the ‘blue corridors’ used by whales, critical migratory routes that connect breeding, feeding, and social habitats across ocean basins. The platform reveals how these lifelines are increasingly threatened by human activity.

In Australian waters, whales face increasing threats from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, especially along the east coast. Off the northwest shelf of Western Australia, oil and gas exploration poses further risks. Additionally, underwater noise, plastic pollution and climate change have disrupted whale migration patterns and reduced prey availability.

Humpback Whale family swimming through the deep blue ocean under morning light rays
Humpback Whale family swimming through the deep blue ocean under morning light rays © WWF-Australia / iStock

The Blue Corridors platform has become a cornerstone of WWF-Australia’s Saltwater strategy. Through the tools development and launch, it has strengthened advocacy, informed policy and supported inclusive conservation.

  • The platform directly supported advocacy for the protection of 100,000 hectares of critical ocean areas in the Southern Hemisphere to help protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.
  • Governments, including Australia’s, are using Blue Corridors data to inform marine spatial planning and decisions on marine protected areas.
  • The platform has helped identify critical zones where whale migration routes intersect with human threats, enabling more targeted conservation strategies.
  • The launch of the platform in June 2025 generated over 270 media stories, reaching more than 720 million people worldwide, and has been praised by science, policy and intergovernmental communities.
  • WWF-Australia shared platform findings with Indigenous communities, fishers and coastal stakeholders to co-design solutions that reduce whale entanglement and vessel strikes.

By making this data publicly accessible, WWF is helping inform science, policy and marine protection efforts, as well as support global goals for ocean conservation.