The islands offshore ( now proclaimed a marine sanctuary as part of the overall protection of the coast ) were raked for nitrogen-rich guano used in the manufacture of gunpowder and fertilizer and the cold nutrient-rich atlantic waters were scoured for whales .
In the comedy film " ace ventura : when nature calls " the title character , a pet detective played by jim carrey , extolls guano as " an essential ingredient for the production of 84 % of the world 's organic fertilizer , a $ 1.4 billion industry . "