In a big step forward for ocean conservation, WWF and a global coalition of scientists, civil society groups, governments, and tech innovators have launched BlueCorridors.org. This new digital platform maps the migration routes of whales alongside threats they face and solutions to protect them. For the first time, the ocean “blue corridors” that whales travel across the globe are digitally mapped and publicly available to guide science, policy, and marine protection efforts.

Research for whale conservation

The platform brings together more than 30 years of satellite tracking data from over 50 research teams worldwide, including Oregon State University, the University of California Santa Cruz, and the University of Southampton. These maps reveal the “superhighways” whales use to travel between feeding, breeding, and social areas — paths that are critical not just for their survival, but for the health of the oceans. But these essential routes are under growing pressure. Despite years of conservation work, 7 out of 14 great whale species are still endangered or vulnerable. Ship collisions, fishing gear entanglements, underwater noise, plastic pollution, and the effects of climate change all threaten their survival.

BlueCorridors.org platform visual – Australia © 2025 Protecting Blue Corridors project and partners

Mixing science with practical solutions

BlueCorridors.org provides a timely and practical solution. It’s an interactive, easy-to-use tool that helps visualize whale movements, threats in their environment, and priority areas for conservation. These help experts and decision-makers work across borders to protect these ocean giants.

“Blue corridors are more than migration routes—they’re lifelines for the ocean’s giants and the ecosystems they support,” said Chris Johnson, Global Lead for WWF’s Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative. “This platform transforms decades of science into a tool for action—showing when, where, and how to protect whales in a rapidly changing ocean.”

Highlights of the platform include

• Whale migration maps by species and season, available to download and share;
• Conservation layers, including data from the IUCN Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs), to support marine protected area planning;
• Threat overlays, such as shipping routes, fishing zones, and climate impacts;
• Real-world case studies, showing where whales are most at risk and what solutions can be applied.

“This is the future of conservation—open, collaborative, and driven by science,” said Dr. Ryan Reisinger, co-lead of the project from the University of Southampton. “By combining data on threats with real solutions, this platform helps us plan smarter and act faster to protect our shared ocean.” BlueCorridors.org responds to a growing need for open-access, science-based tools to connect and protect marine life across regions. Peer-reviewed publications explaining the platform’s methods and collaborative design are expected in late 2025.

A pod of humpback whales swimming underwater © Darren Jew