Save the Whales = Combat Global Warming

Frankie Stiles


Reducing carbon and replenishing the whale population plays an important role in helping
our environment. Though it may not be common knowledge, the two are actually linked.
What does saving the whales have to do with reducing CO2 in the atmosphere? “The
Impact of Whaling on the Ocean Carbon Cycle: Why Bigger was Better” answers the
question of why it is important to increase and maintain the whale population in order to
reduce CO2. Experts in the field conducted research and found that though the amount of
carbon that would be replaced by increasing the whale and other large fish population to
what it has been in the past.

Whales – in this study baleen whales because of their significant size – help to bring carbon
from shallow sea levels to the deep sea. They do this by accumulating and storing the
carbon during their lifetime. “The carbon accumulated in the body of a long-lived
vertebrate will remain out of the atmosphere for the animal's life. In terms of their size and
potential to store carbon for years or decades, marine vertebrates are the only organisms in
the ocean comparable to large trees.” When the whales die, their carcasses, which naturally
store CO2, float to the bottom of the ocean and the carbon releases and dissipates
throughout the water. “Carbon is removed from the euphotic zone by the sinking of organic
matter.”

The oceans’ ecosystem is vital to facilitating essential cycles that keep our planet in motion.
Keeping the carbon amounts balanced in the ocean is an issue according to many scientists.
According to the journal, it is estimated “that whaling removed 1.7×10^7 tons of carbon
from marine ecosystems” and that “populations of large baleen whales now store 9.1×10^6
tons less carbon than before whaling.”

If we say that every bit counts, then we need to act on that and actually make an effort to
putting every bit towards the effort. Replenishing the whale population is not an easy task.
Though whale hunting has almost ceased, the whale face other problems. Issues include
“mortality due to ship strikes and potentially reduced food supplies due to climate
variability or competition with humans.” The suggested increase for the whales in our
oceans is equivalent to that of other efforts that have been suggested and are being put into
place, such as ocean iron fertilization.

Maintaining and promoting the carbon cycle is important because in theory, carbon
amounts are increasing and some scientists fear that this will result in global warming and
will affect life as we know it. Theoretically, the more we can reduce the carbon, the slower
the effects of global warming will rise. Implementing new ways, such as increasing whale
populations, though small, is extremely important say some scientists. Every little bit
counts.

The research estimates “that rebuilding whale populations would remove 1.6×10^5 tons of
carbon each year through sinking whale carcasses.” Rebuilding the population of whales is
key to keeping our carbon levels low. If you’re worried about global warming and humans
increasing carbon levels, you should be saying “Save the whales.” It will be beneficial in a
multitude of ways.

Works Cited

Peter B. Stetson, et al. "The Impact Of Whaling On The Ocean Carbon Cycle: Why Bigger Was Better." Plos ONE 5.8 (2010): 1-9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Feb. 2012.