Association also aims to enhance passengers’ involvement in regular beach clean-ups
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators’ (AECO) has secured funding to help it significantly reduce the use of single-use plastics on Arctic expedition cruise vessels and to increase the number of cruise passengers participating in regular beach clean-ups.
Since signing up to the United Nations (UN) Environment’s Clean Seas campaign, AECO has secured NOK 1.8 million (US$254000) in funding from the Norway-based Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund. This will enable AECO to hire an environmental agent who will be responsible for its involvement in the campaign and also coordinate beach-cleaning efforts.
AECO is also working with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) as many of the planned measures may also be applied to expedition cruise ships in Antarctica.
“Clean oceans are an issue that our members are extremely passionate about,” said Frigg Jørgensen, executive director of AECO. “For years, the Arctic expedition cruise industry has involved thousands of passengers in volunteering to pick up rubbish when they go on landings. As part of this new project, we will examine the whole value chain to reduce the risk of plastic finding its way into our oceans in the first place. Our members would like to be part of the solution, and that involves finding alternatives to disposable plastic products on their ships.”
AECO hopes that the expedition cruise industry will set an example for the ways in which the rest of the tourism industry can contribute to sustainable development.
"We have just signed a memorandum of understanding with UN Environment to formalise our cooperation,” said Jørgensen. “The plan is to work with the UN Clean Seas Campaign to develop information material targeted at staff and passengers. Our ambition is to change people’s attitude towards disposable plastics. We want to show people that there are good alternatives to things like plastic straws and plastic packaging. It’s not too late to tackle the issue of plastic marine debris, but we have to act now."