AECO, an industry association aiming to manage responsible expedition cruise tourism in the Arctic, signed the Buenos Aires Declaration on December 7. This Declaration states that signatories cannot knowingly enable the carriage or sale of illegally traded wildlife products.
The Declaration on Illegal Trade in Wildlife regards wildlife products, where the trade in those products opposes to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and they are illegal under international laws.
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AECO has a zero-tolerance policy about illegal trade in wildlife products and encourages visitors to the Arctic to support local communities by buying legal and sustainable products.
It also has additional guidelines in place to protect Arctic nature. In fact, guests travelling with AECO operators are not allowed to collect stones, bones, antlers, driftwood, flowers, plants and other items from nature. Nevertheless, buying local souvenirs and products is encouraged.
Buying locally made products generates income for the community and can contribute to upholding local craft traditions. When buying animal or plant products, it is important to make sure that they have been harvested and produced legally
Executive Director, Frigg Jørgensen said.
In addition, AECO members are subject to a strict non-disturbance principle regarding wildlife. They also actively support wildlife protection through education, wildlife sighting programs and contributions to science and conservation societies.
