Whales in the fight against climate change

More than a century has passed since the heyday of whaling, a dark period during which the oceans were decimated, and yet most cetacean populations are still struggling to recover. They suffer the cumulative impact of numerous human activities.

And yet, whales play a vital role in the fight against climate change. Recent research shows that large whales in particular can contribute significantly to carbon sequestration. The simple fact of their presence in the oceans allows enormous quantities of carbon to be sequestered, thereby reducing the impact of greenhouse gases.

The protection of carbon-rich marine ecosystems, mainly coastal areas, has become a priority. Awareness of the value of carbon in other marine systems has also highlighted the crucial role of marine organisms, such as whales, in regulating carbon. It reminds us how interconnected our ecosystems are. Whale conservation is not only essential for their survival, but also for the good of our planet. It is imperative to strengthen conservation actions and policies. Whales, once hunted for profit, could well be our saviors in the fight against climate change.

Whales, as migratory animals, roam the world's seas, leaving behind fecal matter that feeds phytoplankton. These microorganisms not only produce more than half of the planet's oxygen, but they also absorb about 37 billion tons of CO2, or about 40% of all CO2 produced. To put this into perspective, this is equivalent to the amount of CO2 captured by 1.7 trillion trees, the equivalent of four Amazon forests. Whales, by feeding on phytoplankton, accumulate carbon throughout their lives. When a whale dies and sinks to the bottom of the ocean, it traps an average of 33 tonnes of CO2, removing this carbon from the atmosphere for centuries. In comparison, a tree only absorbs up to 48 kilos of CO2 per year.

Saving whales means helping to save the planet, and this relationship is astonishingly simple.

Atlantik is happy to support with you through your purchases, Itsas Arima, the soul of the sea, an association whose aim in particular is to reduce accidental captures of marine mammals on the Basque and Landes coasts.

https://itsasarima.com/