Sydney: The world’s first interactive map tracking whale migration has revealed that Australian waters are becoming increasingly dangerous for the ocean’s giants, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Australia said on Wednesday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the newly launched BlueCorridors.org platform, developed by WWF and over 50 international research groups, visualizes for the first time how whale migration routes intersect with escalating threats, such as ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change, particularly in Australian waters. The launch of this platform, ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8, underscores urgent conservation challenges facing Australia’s marine ecosystems.

The platform combines more than 3.2 million km of satellite tracking data from over 1,400 migratory whales, mapping their journeys and highlighting the mounting dangers they face in Australian and global waters. Chris Johnson, Global Lead for WWF’s Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative, stated, “Blue corridors are more than migration routes, they’re lifelines for the ocean’s giants and the ecosystems they support.”

Johnson further explained that ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and shark nets are a growing concern on Australia’s east coast, especially during humpback whale migration season. Additionally, climate change is disrupting their migration and food sources. In response, WWF-Australia is calling on the government to create a Western Pacific Blue Corridor Initiative with Pacific nations and scientists. This initiative aims to establish protections from the Pacific to Antarctica, which would safeguard whales and support ocean health and climate by preserving vital marine ecosystems.

Finally, Johnson emphasized the importance of healthy whale populations, stating that “Healthy whales lead to healthy oceans,” as they help fertilize the seas, boost phytoplankton, and support the planet’s oxygen supply.