But it’s more than just one whale.
One whale may be more valuable to us and the health of our planet than one may think! According to a study by the International Monetary Fund one whale is worth one thousand trees (and $2 million)!
The study which was carried out by Ralph Chami, Thomas Cosimano, Connel Fullenkamp, and Sena Oztosun explains that when whales die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean taking with them a large amount of CO2; each great whale takes 33 tons of CO2 on average, taking that carbon out of the atmosphere for centuries. A tree, meanwhile, absorbs only up to 48 pounds of CO2 a year. Whales accumulate carbon in their bodies during their lifespan of 60 years.
What’s more, it is not just the whales which are taking in the carbon dioxide, but also microscopic marine algae called phytoplankton. Why am I bringing up phytoplankton you may ask? Well phytoplankton thrive on iron and nitrogen from cetacean faeces. So, where there are more whales there will be more phytoplankton, and this is important for our planet because phytoplankton contribute to 50% of all oxygen to our atmosphere! Phytoplankton capture 40% of all carbon dioxide produced by mankind (that’s the equivalent to four amazon rainforests!).
At a minimum, even a 1% increase in phytoplankton productivity thanks to whale activity would capture hundreds of millions of tons of additional CO2 a year, equivalent to the sudden appearance of 2 billion mature trees.
The IMF also explain how whales have financial value. Economists used the current market price of carbon dioxide, then worked out the total monetary value of this marine mammalian carbon capture, and added it to other economic benefits great whales provide through things like ecotourism.
Chami and his colleagues estimated that the great whales are worth $2 million over their lifetime! ‘The entire global population of great whales? Possibly a one trillion dollar asset to humanity.’ (Reminder that these figures refer to whales which are alive and in the wild, not capturing to sell on or killing for meat). The protection of certain wildlife seems to have fallen to charities and organisations to be responsible for. Through his studies, Chami wants to change the way the world thinks about whales by quantifying the benefits they provide us in dollars and cents. Something with such great financial and environmental benefit arguably should not be left to only those who care to protect but for governments to take responsibility.
People around the world have made their own prices of how much they think marine mammals should cost. Fisherman from Taji all the way to our very own Norway have put a price on these magnificent creatures. Whether they are selling them for meat or into captivity facilities for entertainment. But is commercial whaling coming to an end? It seems to be the case in Iceland! For the second year in a row Iceland will not hunt whales, and potentially never again. The demand for whale meat in declining and the demand for wild whale watching is on the increase. So why does Norway continue to hunt whales?
When asked many give the excuse that it is an important tradition. But there are many traditions that have had to be stopped; slavery, sacrifices, monarchies, I could go on… If you research commercial whaling it continues not because of tradition, but because of the fish which are in demand from the whole world. The whales are ultimately killed to stop them eating the fish which the fisherman need to sell. Therefore, we need a call to action for a more sustainable way to fish. We also cannot put the full blame on the fishermen, they are doing what they think is the best way to make money. We must look at the whole world and lower the demand for fish. We could also go as far as to say that our economy and governments need to rethink the way people make money. At the moment our world revolves around making as much money as possible with total disregard of what or who suffers. Those who help our planet flourish and grow often work voluntarily. The system must change. But for now, individuals and individual governments can do something right. Will Norway follow in the steps of Iceland and cease whale hunting?
The figures shown in the study take away the doubt as to whether it is important to protect whales (even a single whale). We have the opportunity to help these special beings, these giants of the sea, and ultimately “lead to a break through in the fight against climate change.” There is hope, but we need to put pressure on our governments to include the cost it takes to protect whales. The protection of whales needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Resources used:
Ralph Chami, Thomas Cosimano, Connel Fullenkamp, and Sena Oztosun, The International Monetary Fund, Nature’s Solution to Climate Change, FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT, DECEMBER 2019, VOL. 56, NO. 4, https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2019/12/natures-solution-to-climate-change-chami.htm
Jana Randow, Bloomberg, One Whale Is Worth Thousands of Trees in Climate Fight, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-20/one-whale-is-worth-thousands-of-trees-in-helping-save-the-planet
Marco Magrini, Geographical, One whale is worth a thousand trees, https://geographical.co.uk/nature/oceans/item/3484-one-whale-is-worth-a-thousand-trees
Madaline Stone, National Geographic, How much is a whale worth?
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/09/how-much-is-a-whale-worth/