Distinguished Speaker: Ari Friedlaender

Protecting Whale Super-highways, Blue Corridors, and Whale Habitats from Human Impacts

Description:

As we learn more about the needs and behavior of whales around the world we are confronted with the reality that their habitats are inextricably linked with areas of human activity in the ocean.  Whereas once we thought that the breeding and feeding grounds for whales were the only critical areas that needed protection we now know that the routes these great whales take across ocean basins and along coasts are just as important and may even represent areas that require significantly more protection as they are often out of sight and cross international boundaries.  In this lecture Dr. Friedlaender will discuss the Blue Corridors initiative in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to better understand and protect whales from human activities around the world.  This effort, based on more than 30 years of data from more than 100 scientists represents the most comprehensive look at the migratory routes of whales and how they overlap with harmful human activities.