Arctic Blue Corridors Report (2024)
Safeguarding migrating whales from growing pressures for a connected Arctic Ocean
A new online report highlights the urgency of taking concrete action to safeguard Arctic whales on their migrations, as they are faced with new and growing pressure from climate change and increased shipping activity.
As the Arctic Ocean experiences rapid change from the climate crisis and industrial activities, WWF is calling for urgent action to protect whales while they are using migratory routes, known as blue corridors, that are essential for the survival of many whale species. The new online report sheds light on the critical importance of these corridors for whales and the escalating threats posed by the climate crisis and increased shipping activity in the Arctic.
The Arctic Ocean is a vital life support system for one-quarter of the planet’s whale species, including Arctic whales: the narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whale. These whales undertake vast migrations between summer and winter habitats, navigating thousands of kilometers along these blue corridors. For the first time, WWF has mapped these routes across the entire Arctic Ocean and overlaid them with shipping lanes to highlight the issue and the need for action.