When an old and perished whale sinks to the bottom of the ocean, no one hears the noise. Does it even produce a sound? We do not know the answer, but when a whale washes up on the beach, everyone witnesses that. Recently, there has been a spike in whale deaths and strandings in the world.
Many researchers believe that vessel strikes and entanglement of fishing equipment are to blame for the loss of the giant marine species. But these unfortunate events come with a cost.
Healthy whales indicate a healthy ecosystem. They are top predators and they eat fish, mammals, invertebrates, and plankton. When the whales die, their giant carcasses serve as food to small fishes for years. The process can last for decades, supporting the marine ecosystem.
Talking about the human side of things, whale watching tours in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world are increasing. The industry is booming and growing. Do you know the whale-watching industry stands at $2.9 billion globally? The activity makes a substantial contribution to employment and the economy of coastal communities. Whale-watching tours in Sri Lanka also educate people and serve as a means for researchers to gather data on whale populations.
Additionally, whales offer services through a process called whale pump. Whales feed themselves at the bottom of the sea bed and they come to the surface to defecate. Their waste is nutrient rich and it supports the health of phytoplankton or marine algae on the ocean’s surface.
Thus, whales play an important role in keeping a healthy ecosystem for all of us.