Australia is barely on the map. It counts.

https://wwfwhales.org/news-stories/protecting-blue-corridors-report

A new report from WWF and partners provides the first truly comprehensive look at whale migrations and the threats they face across all oceans, highlighting how the cumulative impacts from industrial fishing, ship strikes, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change are creating a hazardous and sometimes fatal obstacle course for the marine species.

The report outlines how whales are encountering multiple and growing threats in their critical ocean habitats - areas where they feed, mate, give birth, and nurse their young - and along their migration superhighways, or ‘blue corridors’.

Growing evidence shows the critical role whales play maintaining ocean health and our global climate - with one whale capturing the same amount of carbon as thousands of trees.

The International Monetary Fund estimates the value of a single great whale at more than US$2 million, which totals more than US$1 trillion for the current global population of great whales.

“This report presents some of the most comprehensive data to date on large scale movements of whales through the world’s oceans. The emerging picture underscores the need for swift, concerted action and investment of resources from national governments, international bodies, local communities, industry and conservation groups like WWF to stop this underwater assault on whales and protect these critical blue corridors,” said Dr. Margaret Kinnard, WWF Global Wildlife Practice Lead. Protecting Blue Corridors: Challenges and solutions for migratory whales navigating national and international seas is being published ahead of World Whale Day on 20 February.

    • Treevan 🇦🇺@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I meant that Australia is off to the side (as a joke) and this is a predominantly Aus-centric Environment community. Technically, if I’m posting to the ideals of the place, I’d only accept an article or map with Australia right in the centre. Since I was trying to fill the place with content, if Australia even gets a mention, it’s in.

      There was one article that mentioned reef microbes in the Pacific with no mention of Aus and I posted it because we have a reef in the Pacific. That was the scrape on the bottom of the barrel. That’s the benchmark for “is this relevant?”.

      I like the content of your comment though! Cheers.