Whale urine feeds the ocean and keeps ecosystems alive, say scientists — but how?

Whales’ Waste Holds the Key to Ocean Health, Say Scientists (Image: Canva)

Whales might appear like far-off ocean behemoths, yet their influence finds our lives in ways we hardly think of. Fresh research unveils their urine isn't only waste—it's nature's subtle present to the ocean. As bizarre as this may sound, these friendly sea giants could be assisting in the battle against climate change with each bowel movement.

Whales Fertilise Ocean Life Through Their Urine

Whales are more than beautiful swimmers in the ocean. Scientists indicate that they do a process known as the whale pump. It is about feeding deep underwater and urinating near the surface. This very simple action transports nutrients such as iron and nitrogen upwards.

These nutrients nourish phytoplankton, small ocean plants that are the foundation of the food web. Phytoplankton have a hard time growing and thriving without nutrients. Whale pee is a fertiliser, increasing plankton activity and ocean health. With more phytoplankton, carbon is also removed from the atmosphere. This natural process regulates Earth's climate over the long term.

Migration Creates a Giant Nutrient Conveyor Belt

Whales don't remain in the same location throughout the year. They migrate thousands of kilometres between their feeding and breeding grounds. Such movement forms a great whale conveyor belt, scientists say. Whales transport nutrients across oceans through migration, including to impoverished tropical waters.

For instance, grey whales graze in winter in the North Pacific. They later migrate to the California coast in warmer weather. Through these migrations, they deposit approximately 46,000 tonnes of biomass annually. Their urine also contributes an additional 4,000 tonnes of nitrogen into the ocean. This recycling continues all year round and enhances plankton, capturing still more carbon from the atmosphere.

Urine Helps Trap Carbon and Slow Climate Change

The whale waste chain reaction stops with plankton. When plankton increase on excess nutrients, they undergo photosynthesis. It absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and locks it in the sea. Recent data indicate this holds as much as 18,180 tonnes of carbon annually.

Whales contribute to a natural carbon-storage system that could never be constructed by humans. While research primarily centers on gray whales and humpback whales, other baleen whales also contribute. Their complete function is still under research, but preliminary findings indicate far-reaching advantages.

Conservation Is Now More Urgent Than Ever

These findings reveal why whale conservation needs to extend beyond saving animals. Whales maintain healthy oceans and silently combat climate change. Scientists today call for further studies to better comprehend these functions. Saving whales is saving the ecosystems on which we all rely.

As we continue to discover the ways in which whale waste fuels the sea, we are reminded of the health of nature's balance. Even something as surprising as urine has the potential to fuel life on Earth. Now the question is—are we going to do anything to protect the animals assisting us with breathing?