Maritime industry joins push to curb illegal wildlife trade

Buckingham Palace Declaration targets hotspot routes and ports used by traffickers

News ID: 63072

Date: 23 March 2016 - 15:05

REPRESENTATIVES of the maritime industry signed a declaration today to help end the trade in illegal wildlife.
Signatories to the Buckingham Palace Declaration agreed to develop a secure system for sharing information on suspected illegal wildlife trafficking with customs and law enforcement, and establish a team to work with customs and law enforcement to create best practice on stopping the illegal wildlife trade in key ports.
Maersk Line head of sustainability Signe Bruun Jensen told Lloyd’s List: “By signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration, Maersk is committing to take real steps to shut down the routes exploited by traffickers of the illegal wildlife trade moving their products from killing field to marketplace.”
Ms Jensen said that initial efforts will be focused in the coming weeks across areas identified as illegal wildlife trade hotspots: South and East Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Southeast Asia and Greater China.
“This initiative will further strengthen our ability to screen data and cargo in order to identify potential shipments of suspected illegal wildlife. In turn we will work to increase awareness of the issue amongst employees and customers in targeted markets.”
The declaration was drafted by the transport taskforce of United for Wildlife, a campaign from The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to bring together international wildlife charities with the aim of eliminating the illegal wildlife trade.
Maritime signatories among the supporters from across the transport sector include China Cosco Shipping, Cruise Lines International Association, DP World, International Maritime Organization, Maersk Group, BIMCO, Danish Shipowners’ Association, Hamburg Süd, International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, International Chamber of Shipping, Japanese Shipowners’ Association, Liberian Shipowners’ Council, Stena Line UK, Stolt-Nielsen, Sustainable Shipping Initiative and the UK Chamber of Shipping.