Whales significantly contribute to the health of marine ecosystems, with recent studies highlighting the importance of their urine as a nutrient source. Research published in *Nature Communications* in March 2025, confirms that baleen whale urine provides essential nutrients, especially in tropical waters that lack these vital elements. Humpback, gray, and right whales migrate from polar feeding areas to equatorial breeding grounds, carrying crucial nutrients.
During their migrations, whales release urine, feces, and placentas, enriching nutrient-poor areas. This process, known as the "great whale conveyor belt," transports substantial amounts of carbon and nitrogen to the tropics. According to the study, humpback, gray, and right whales transport more than 4,000 tonnes of nutrients such as nitrogen to low-nutrient coastal areas in the tropics and subtropics each year. They also bring more than 45,000 tonnes of biomass.
Whale urine stimulates phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis, potentially capturing 18,180 tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually. Historical whaling has reduced this nutrient transportation to about one-third of its potential. Protecting whales is essential for maintaining ocean health and supporting carbon capture, as these ocean giants play a vital role in marine ecosystems.