WWF Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to increase the protection of whales passing through Scottish waters after the release of a first-of-its-kind migration map.

A new report from the wildlife conservation organisation has for the first time visualised the satellite tracks of more than 800 migratory whales – including the humpback and the fin, the second largest whale species on Earth – which make use of the "blue corridors" that span the globe and pass through the ocean surrounding Scotland.

"Protecting Blue Corridors" – a collaborative report with marine scientists from Oregon State University, the University of California Santa Cruz, the University of Southampton and others – also highlights the multiple and growing threats these creatures face within their critical ocean habitats, in which they feed, mate, give birth and nurse their young.

Through satellite tracking data of 845 whales, collected over the past 30 years, the report represents the first map of its kind following whale migrations all over the world.

WWF Scotland ocean recovery policy manager Dr Lyndsey Dodds said: “Gentle giants like fin and humpback whales are frequent visitors to Scottish seas, but – as is the case right around the world – our waters are fraught with risk, from fishing gear entanglement to ship strikes.

“That’s why it’s vital that the Scottish Government plays its part in delivering ocean recovery by securing sustainable fisheries, minimising bycatch and implementing remote electronic monitoring with cameras.

“It should also support the development and implementation of mitigation measures that tackle entanglement. In addition, marine protected areas need to ensure high levels of protection and the restriction of damaging activities in order to support the full range of marine wildlife. 

“By doing our bit here in Scotland, we can contribute to, and encourage regional and global efforts to protect these magnificent creatures and at the same time restore healthy oceans, critical in the fight against climate change.”

Chris Johnson, global lead for whale and dolphin conservation at WWF, said: “This report highlights the hotspots and risks facing whales as they migrate, sometimes thousands of kilometres a year. 

“The deadliest of these is entanglement in fishing gear, which globally kills an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises each year. Other hazards include chemical, plastic and noise pollution, habitat loss and climate change.”

Due to these hazards, six out of the 13 great whale species are now classified as endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, despite decades of action being taken against commercial whaling.

The protection of blue corridors extends beyond the preservation of whales, but also encompasses the health of our oceans and our global climate, which evidence suggests whales play a critical role in maintaining, with one whale capturing an equal amount of carbon to thousands of trees.

According to the WWF, Scotland’s marine environment is estimated to sequester more than 28 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, highlighting the importance of protecting our oceans and the species which live within them.