Just cruising? Environmental effects of cruise ships
Cruising on luxurious ships, being indulged and indulgent, is a rapidly growing pursuit worldwide. It is a sector of the tourism industry that is likely to continue to expand; a product of affluence, an ageing population in many nations, and the relative security and safety of holidaying on a cruise ship.
In the New Zealand context, cruise ships allow access to some of the world's grandest scenery and wild places: Fiordland and the sub-Antarctic Islands. Such jewels are also environmentally fragile with little scope for absorbing major pollution events or cumulative impacts. Thus a precautionary approach could well be New Zealand's best response to managing potential environmental effects of cruise ships.
The large increase in cruises and the number of ships involved in recent years led to my decision to investigate New Zealand's management of actual and potential environmental impacts. It was a decision based on the very simple principle that, given the economic value of the cruising business and the intrinsic values of the places visited, it is better to be safe than sorry. My team and I trust that this contribution to the understanding of international and local cruise ship management systems will contribute to ensuring that environmental risks are further reduced and visitor experiences protected.