The waste from minke whales plays a significant part in fertilizing surface waters and supporting phytoplankton growth, a key step in the ocean carbon cycle. This finding has been reported by AFP.
Researchers at the Norwegian Institute for Marine Research examined the nutrient content in whale waste and how it interacts with seawater. They note that while the material may sound repulsive, it provides essential nutrients that sustain life in the marine environment. They compare it to how land animals like cows and sheep enrich soil, but in this case the enrichment occurs in the sea. The study focused on the excrement of minke whales that were harpooned as part of Norway’s commercial whaling program, a practice still permitted in the country.
Each summer, an estimated 15,000 minke whales migrate to the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic. On a daily basis, these animals release an estimated 600 tons of excrement into the ocean, roughly 40 kilograms per whale. The researchers found that this material corresponds to about 10 tons of phosphorus and 7 tons of nitrogen entering the water. These nutrients fuel the growth of microscopic algae, phytoplankton, which use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and release oxygen as a byproduct.
Overall, minke whale waste contributes a notable share, about 0.2 to 4 percent, to the daily phytoplankton productivity in the Arctic region surrounding Svalbard.
The lead researcher, Kjell Gundersen, notes that the actual impact is likely higher. The current estimates do not include urine, which is very rich in nitrogen. Each adult minke whale weighs in at 40 to 50 tons and feeds by filtering large volumes of seawater, which results in urine production that amounts to several hundred liters per day.
This boost in phytoplankton biomass helps encapsulate a larger carbon sink. As phytoplankton flourish, they capture carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and contribute to the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, thus playing a subtle but meaningful role in moderating climate effects.
Experts emphasize that the ecological role of whale waste is a reminder of the interconnectedness of marine systems. Nutrient recycling in the surface ocean supports primary production, which forms the base of the marine food web and influences carbon dynamics on a regional scale. The findings add nuance to the discussion about the environmental footprint of whaling and the complex balance between harvesting marine life and sustaining ocean health, a topic that continues to attract scientific attention in the Arctic.
Citation: AFP