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Join us in making a positive contribution to the welfare of communities and wildlife around the globe
At Peregrine, we take our responsibility to minimise environmental impact extremely seriously. A large part of that involves educating our passengers in ways to minimise their personal impact while still fully enjoying the wonders of the polar regions. This begins with our pre-departure information and continues on board with our educational program, as well as with our staff and leaders on shore. Peregrine is a Full Member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) and, as such, has agreed to abide by some of the tourism worlds most conscientious codes of conduct. We go beyond best practice in our polar operations, and have established guidelines for respectful interaction with the peoples and cultures we meet in the north. RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING We have a responsible purchasing policy which ensures that, wherever possible, our produce (including seafood) is harvested from a sustainable source, and all provisions right down to our cleaning products are chosen for their low environmental impact. We have recently completed a refurbishment program on the ships engines, enabling them to operate at maximum efficiency. CONSERVATION INITIATIVES Peregrine supports a variety of conservation and cultural initiatives in the polar regions. In Antarctica we have raised through on-board donations by our staff and passengers around A$600,000 towards our Get the Albatross Off the Hook campaign, aimed at stopping albatross decimation through long-line fishing. Under guidance from a panel of experts led by Dr Graham Robertson of the Australian Antarctic Division, we have supported a range of projects throughout the Southern Ocean.
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We also support WWF-Australia, the worlds leading conservation organisation. In 2006 we funded the joint WWF/ACE/Peregrine Bioregionalisation Workshop and Report. This project mapped for the first time the different ecological zones of the Southern Ocean and was tabled at CCAMLR. Representing 10 per cent of the worlds ocean surface, and an area the size of Russia, the map will help in assessing areas under threat, and ultimately in determining regions needing formal protection. In 2006/7, we joined again with WWFAustralia to campaign for Government funding for the implementation of a pest eradication plan on World Heritage-listed Macquarie Island. Rabbit and rat populations have exploded in recent years, causing almost irrevocable damage to the landscape (erosion caused by rabbits resulted in over 20 landslips in one month alone, one of which killed hundreds of king penguins). Grey-headed and wandering albatross, which nest on the island, were also threatened with local extinction. It was imperative that the plan receive government funding by mid-2007 to avoid missing another years window of opportunity. Peregrine and WWF-Australia stepped in with $100,000 to kick start key initial steps of the program and to spur the Tasmanian and Australian Commonwealth governments to act. Due in a large part to this campaign, an agreement was reached on June 4, 2007 and the plan will now receive full funding (A$24 million).
In 2007 we introduced the on-board auction concept in the Arctic, aiming to raise funds for polar bear research. The first project that will be supporting is a study on the impact of climatic variation and climate change on polar bears in the Canadian Arctic specifically in the light of changes in the amount and distribution of sea ice. Using satellite telemetry and working in conjunction with existing projects in other locations, the study will track and monitor bears and will develop predictive tools to assess the likely impact of climate change on polar bears and their prey. We also participate in the Clean Up Svalbard project, in conjunction with the Governor and people of Svalbard. In many places on the archipelago, rubbish, including plastic, lost fishing nets and other refuse largely from the Barents Sea fishing fleet accumulates along the shore line. On each voyage, you will be offered the opportunity to spend a few hours in rubber gloves, picking up litter along the beaches. RESEARCH INITIATIVES Our ships are state-of-the-art, working scientific vessels. During our expedition voyages (without any disruption to our itineraries) and during seasonal mobilisations, we help fund continuing, on-going scientific research aboard the ships. This has included on-going collection of data for critical meteorological and oceanographic studies. We also provide logistical support for many scientific study groups. Our commitment to the environment extends to many other parts of the world. We are involved in numerous grass-roots environmental and cultural projects, many of which we have initiated, others which we support financially through direct company contributions and donations from our clients. We invite your feedback on ways we can improve our approach to protecting our planet, while encouraging others to discover its wonders.
Photo: Peter Lambert
Travelling responsibly
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