The ocean is an important carbon sink, absorbing approximately 2.5 billion tons of carbon every year, accounting for 22% of human emissions. Large fish such as whales are also carbon savers. A large whale can store 33 tons of carbon dioxide, more than many terrestrial plants. Whale carcasses can also nourish phytoplankton, supply 50% of the world’s oxygen and capture 37 billion tons of carbon dioxide.
However, the number of large fish has been reduced to 25% of what it was before industrial whaling. Overfishing has led to the loss of large amounts of blue carbon and increased carbon emissions
Prioritize fishing reduction! Large fish key to carbon sequestration
