Pacific Nations to Unite in Fiji to Safeguard Whale and Dolphin “Blue Corridors” Across the Western Pacific

Feb 18, 2026

Humpback whales © Darren Jew

Nadi, Fiji - Traditional knowledge, conservation science, storytelling and innovation will converge in Fiji next week as Pacific nations and global partners gather to strengthen protection for whale and dolphin habitats and migration routes across the Western Pacific.

The Western Pacific Blue Corridors Forum, a three-day regional gathering from Feb 23-25, 2026, will bring together experts from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). They will be joined by indigenous and community leaders, fisheries organisations, government representatives and conservation practitioners to develop recommendations for national governments to advance whale conservation across the region.

Participants will explore cultural perspectives and local knowledge alongside the latest scientific findings, while deepening understanding of escalating regional threats such as fisheries bycatch, shipping traffic, marine pollution and climate change. The forum will also identify critical knowledge gaps and practical, collaborative solutions.

The forum aims to chart a clear path forward by strengthening ecological connectivity across the Pacific Ocean and supporting regional and global biodiversity and climate commitments delivering lasting benefits for marine life and coastal communities.

WWF-Pacific Pacific Conservation Director Alfred Ralifo highlights that safeguarding whale migration routes is essential to the region’s sustainable future.

“Protecting whale migration routes through the Western Pacific Blue Corridors is vital for Pacific Island countries as we work to advance our shared global commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement.

By bringing together innovation, science, traditional and local knowledge, community leadership and meaningful collaboration across ocean sectors, we can strengthen regional stewardship and drive a truly People and Nature-Positive Pacific.”

Participants will draw on new data contributed from the global Blue Corridors Initiative - a collaboration involving more than 60 partners from the marine mammal science and conservation community including WWF. Launched in June 2025, BlueCorridors.org visualises growing risks to whales and highlights marine connectivity solutions to inform policy, drawing on more than 30 years of data tracking over 1,000 migrating whales.

The routes whales travel, known as “blue corridors”, increasingly overlap with hazards including industrial fishing gear, busy shipping lanes and ocean pollution.

Of the world’s 14 species of great whales, seven are classified as endangered or vulnerable by the IUCN. Several species that traverse Western Pacific blue corridors including blue, sei, sperm and fin whales - face mounting pressures throughout their migratory journeys.

Chris Johnson, Global Lead for WWF’s Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative, adds that the forum will support regionally tailored solutions.

“Migratory routes for whales have become increasingly dangerous obstacle courses for these iconic animals, which hold deep cultural and economic significance across the Pacific. Climate change is also impacting prey availability, affecting the health of whales and other migratory species.

Because threats and solutions differ across our ocean, the Western Pacific Blue Corridors Workshop will take an inclusive regional approach, bringing communities, governments, scientists and NGOs together to co-design practical responses.

Together, we aim to develop strategies that ensure safe passage for whales while delivering benefits for communities across the Western Pacific. It is urgent that we chart a way forward, together.”

Nations represented at the forum will include Fiji, Aotearoa New Zealand, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.

Outcomes from the forum will contribute to a collaborative report outlining priority actions to safeguard blue corridors. The report is expected to inform regional decision-making and will be presented to leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum later this year.

The forum is supported by the WWF Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative through a grant from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.