2026/03/01 by Joanne M. Morten, Aline Küehl‐Stenzel, G. Barry Baker +5 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Species Distribution and Climate Change #Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses #Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
paper · doi:10.1111/1365-2664.70339
Abstract The conservation of migratory species needs coordinated actions across their range. Global flyways are the broad routes migratory species travel between their breeding and non‐breeding ranges. For migratory land and waterbirds, the flyways concept has improved conservation outcomes by providing an effective framework that brings together relevant stakeholders, identifies research and conservation priorities, mobilises finances and coordinates interventions over the long term. The recent identification of marine flyways presents an opportunity to translate the flyways concept to the marine environment to further the conservation of seabirds, one of the most threatened groups of birds. We summarise available data for marine flyways, including national responsibilities, focal species, important site networks and major pressures, for example to support the Resolution on Seabirds and Marine Flyways that is expected to be adopted at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and Wild Animals (CMS) in March 2026. The Resolution aims to provide formal recognition of marine flyways and their contribution to strengthening international cooperation for the conservation of seabirds. We demonstrate the strong overlap of marine flyways with the national waters of countries that are Party to CMS, highlighting the unique opportunity for implementation via this policy mechanism. We identify 151 migratory and pelagic seabird species that use all or part of the marine flyways, of which almost half are globally threatened. We summarise the existing site network identified for the focal species, alongside their major threats, providing a framework for prioritising conservation actions and identifying knowledge gaps to guide implementation. Policy implications . Implementing the marine flyways framework can secure ecological connectivity across the marine environment, including in synergistic implementation of existing regional policy instruments and multiple multilateral environmental agreements, including CMS, the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), accelerating ocean conservation and delivering tangible benefits for migratory species. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the journal’s blog .