Latest news with #BlueCorridors.org
Observer
14-06-2025
- Science
- Observer
Oman contributes to global whale migration atlas
In a landmark step for marine conservation, Oman has contributed to a major new global initiative to map and safeguard the migratory 'superhighways' of whales. The Blue Corridors platform ( launched this week by WWF and an international coalition of scientists and conservation groups, digitally charts decades of whale tracking data to drive action on ocean protection worldwide. Oman's unique satellite tracking data -gathered through the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) and marine research group Future Seas and supported by the Environment Authority is now part of this global dataset; helping to illuminate how whales travel through the region's waters and beyond. 'We've contributed Oman's dataset to this collaborative effort,' Suaad al Harthi from the Environment Society of Oman confirmed, 'offering insights that will support international efforts to protect whales from rising threats such as ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, underwater noise and climate change'. For the first time, brings together three decades of global tracking data, integrating it with maps of overlapping marine risks to create a dynamic tool for governments, scientists and policymakers. The initiative highlights the movement of whales through the territorial waters of multiple countries and underscores the urgency of international collaboration, especially as seven of the world's 14 great whale species remain endangered or vulnerable despite decades of conservation efforts. 'Oman's contribution is a vital part of this global effort,' said Dr Andrew Willson of Future Seas Oman, one of the contributing researchers. 'By understanding where whales travel, and where they face the greatest risks, we can work together on more informed conservation plans to protect them —not just in Oman's waters, but across the migratory routes that connect the dots between important habitats used by the whales for breeding and feeding.' Launched ahead of World Oceans Day (8 June) and the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the project also advances global goals to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 — part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The Blue Corridors platform is publicly accessible and will evolve with further peer-reviewed science and collaborative input through 2025. '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.' The project builds on the Protecting Blue Corridors report (2022), now enhanced with open-access visualisations from more than 50 contributing research groups. The platform also highlights hotspots where solutions -such as marine protected areas or revised shipping routes- can make the greatest difference. As the oceans warm and human activities intensify, tools like this offer hope for species whose survival depends on protecting migratory pathways. And Oman's role in this collaborative atlas underscores the country's growing contribution to marine science and conservation on a global scale. Najah al Riyami The writer is a Media and Communication Master's graduate.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alarming map surrounding Australia highlights growing danger to $3.8 billion industry
Populations of whales that survived decades of hunting now face new threats as they migrate from Antarctica to Australia. On Wednesday, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched an interactive map of the world highlighting where the routes of 1,400 whales collide with threats from ships, noise, fossil fuel projects, pollution, fishing and climate change. Whales are critical to ocean health and play an important role in tourism, creating US$2.1 billion (A$3.8 billion) in global revenue and supporting 13,000 jobs. It's hoped the publicly accessible platform will help stop more species of whale from becoming extinct by pinpointing where the dangers occur. And there are plans to gradually add more data from rarely seen species like beaked whales, of which very little is known. Of particular concern to WWF is the North Atlantic right whale which continues to be killed by ships and fishing gear entanglement, and with fewer than 70 breeding females left, the species is showing no signs of recovery. Southern right whales that we see in Australia are also of concern because their numbers have cryptically stagnated at a level far below pre-whaling levels. Related: Carloads of Aussies flock to water's edge for whale migration ritual Chris Johnson, the global lead for WWF's Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative, said the project is designed to be another 'building block' as researchers try to fill gaps in our knowledge about the oceans. 'Whales are these ocean giants that we absolutely love, particularly in Australia, and we still know so little about their migratory patterns,' he told Yahoo News from Melbourne. 'I study sperm whales and there's very little satellite tagging of them, and we don't do a lot of research offshore. We're still discovering new beaked whale species and they're the size of elephants.' More than 50 global research groups were involved in the map's creation. As more data is added to the platform, researchers will be able to gain new insights into the cumulative impact of multiple man-made threats on whales. 📸 Incredible whale spotted just metres from shore thrills tourists 😳 Disturbing photos emerge of famous orcas linked to 'dangerous myth' 🏝️ Tourists stunned by whale encounter off the Aussie coast For instance, the Queensland government announced last week it would be investing $88 million to expand its shark control program, which will include nets known to frequently entangle whale mothers and calves. An average of six whale entanglements a year may not seem like many, but it's adding to a massive global problem. Johnson said the announcement was 'disappointing' because there are modern alternatives to problematic nets. 'It's concerning because bycatch is probably the biggest issue for cetaceans worldwide. Around 300,000 a year die from entanglement and that's an issue from 25 years ago, so the problem is now probably much bigger,' he said. Today, seven of the world's 14 great whale species are threatened with extinction, and their migration routes are critical to their breeding and feeding. Shipping, fishing and gas and oil drilling have been important to industrialisation and the advancement of human interests. Transporting new phones and electric vehicles across the globe, and catching more fish for oil supplements, will continue to enrich our lives, but as more species are lost, the planet becomes less complex and arguably less interesting. By highlighting where the biggest problem areas are, companies will be empowered to make changes to lessen their impact on whales. Johnson said there are examples of this already occurring. In the North Atlantic, companies are altering their fishing methods, with some no longer using rope so whales aren't entangled. In Greece, shipping lanes have been modified to reduce the chances of collisions, and similar changes are being made in Asia. 'Off Sri Lanka, there's a big habitat for blue whales in the northern Indian Ocean. It's one of the busiest shipping lanes on Earth,' he said. 'But research has shown if you move the shipping lane 15 nautical miles further south, it'll reduce ship strikes.' While the government has been slow to respond, shipping companies themselves have been altering their routes in order to reduce the number of strikes. If all of them agree to reroute, the risk of collision would be reduced by 95 per cent. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
