The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), representing a coalition of shipping companies, has signed a Declaration to tackle global wildlife trafficking routes in order to crack down on illegal wildlife trafficking as part of its aim to maximise the sustainability of shipping.
The Buckingham Palace Declaration has been signed by over 40 CEOs, leaders, shipping firms, port operators, customs agencies, intergovernmental organisations and conservation charities from around the world to-date. Ocean transportation signatories included those from China Cosco Shipping, Maersk, BIMCO, Intercargo, Hamburg Sud, the Danish, Liberian and Japanese ship owners’ associations, the International and UK chambers of shipping, Stena, Stolt-Nielsen and the Sustainable Shipping Initiative.
This Declaration is a landmark agreement that commits to shutting down the routes exploited by traffickers of the illegal wildlife trade, moving their products from killing field to market place. There are 11 commitments in place that have been developed by the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce and aim to help support the private sector in fighting illegal wildlife trade.
The commitments from ocean transportation representatives include increasing awareness of passengers, customers, clients and staff about the nature, scale and consequences of illegal wildlife trade, promoting the Declaration and its commitments, improving the training of staff within the transport sector to enable them to identify and report suspected illegal wildlife trade and notify relevant law enforcement authorities where illegal wildlife and their products are suspected.
Alastair Fischbacher, CEO, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative commented: “The Declaration is a welcome and necessary step in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. The SSI wholeheartedly supports its aims, and it is an example of how shipping can take ownership and responsibility for improving wider areas of sustainability, working together and helping other transportation and conservation industries, along with local communities, to make a substantial difference on important global issues, such as the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.”
