Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators' Clean Seas Project

(
Private sector
)
#OceanAction42500
    Description
    Description
    The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) is an international association for expedition cruise operators in the Arctic and others who support our vision of responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic. AECO has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme and is contributing to the UN-led campaign Clean Seas to combat marine plastic pollution.
    AECO is working to drastically cut back on single-use plastics on Arctic expedition cruise vessels, as well as enhance cruise passengers' involvement in regular beach cleanups. AECO will also focus on educating passengers, staff and the public on what can be done to prevent marine plastic pollution.
    AECO is also working with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) on this project, as many of the planned measures may be applied to expedition cruise ships in Antarctica as well as the Arctic.
    We are also focusing on educating passengers, ship crew and the public on what can be done to reduce single-use plastic consumption and prevent marine plastic pollution. To that effect, we are developing educational material such as guidelines and online outreach, as well as onboard lectures. AECO's Clean Seas Project aims to share best practices and successes that can be replicated elsewhere.
    By reducing single-use plastic consumption, facilitating first-hand experiences of the extent of the marine litter problem in the Arctic and educating on its consequences, the shipborne expedition cruise industry is keen to demonstrate how industries can be driving forces in the fight against marine litter. Our set of best practices strive to be applicable to other industries as well as individuals, so our work will benefit a wider audience.
    (photo: Adam Rheborg)

    Partners
    Aurora Expeditions (private), G Adventures (private), Hurtigruten (private), Lindblad Expeditions (private), Oceanwide Expeditions (private), Origo Expeditions (private), Quark Expeditions (private), Polar Quest (private), Hurtigruten Svalbard (private), 69 Nord (private), Silversea Cruises (private), Tallship Company (private), Albatros Travel (private), Hanse Explorer (private), Grands Espaces (private), Abercrombie &Kent (private), One Ocean Expeditions (private), Poseidon Expeditions (private), Algol Oceans (private), Noble Caledonia (private), Eyos Expeditions (private), Seabourn (private), Boreal Yachting (private), Aztec Lady (private), Ponant (private), Adventure Canada (private), Polar Kreuzfahrten (private), Zegrahm Expeditions (private), Natural World Safaris (private), Scenic Cruises (private), Arctic Sailing Escape (private), The World (private), Arctic Explorer (private), Viking Cruises (private), Mystic Cruises (private) Cruise Management International (private), Polaris Expeditions (private), V-Ships (private), Salen Ship Management (private), Vestland Marine (private), Ship to Shore (private), Air Greenland (private), Aker Arctic (private), Arctia (private), Arctic Adventure (private),
    Aventyrsresor (private), Beijing Tripolers (private), Beluga Expeditions (private), Cruise Iceland (private), Delver Agents (private), Glander Int. Bunkering (private), Grand Nord Grand Large (private), Guangzhou Jizhi Travel Serv. (private), Kontiki Reisen (private), North Atlantic Agency (private), OSK Ship Tech (private), PolarNews (private), Pole Position (private), Swoop Arctic (private), Trust Arcticugol (private), Wildfoot Travel (private),Tailor Made Journeys (private), Viking Ice Consultancy (private), Yacht Consulting Group (private), International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (private), Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund (Government), Norwegian Environment Agency (Government)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    Significantly reducing the use of single-use plastics onboard vessels
    Enhance cleanup efforts: passenger engagement, data on cleanups
    Educate and motivate passengers, staff and crew
    Share knowledge and best practices
    Financing (in USD)
    310000
    Title Progress Status Submitted
    Partnership Progress 2019-12-30 On track
    Partnership Progress 2019-12-11 On track
    Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators' Clean Seas Project
    False
    Action Network
    Ocean conference wheel logo
    Share
    FacebookTwitterLinkedIn
    Timeline
    01 May 2018 (start date)
    01 December 2021 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Tromso, Norway
    Ocean Basins
    Arctic Ocean, North Atlantic
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine pollution
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Melissa Nacke, Environmental Specialist