AECO guidelines presentation ― For cruise operators, expedition leaders & guides

Planing and preparation  Knowledge of legal provisions  Local adoptions and special considerations  Notifications / applications / communications AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Planing and preparation  Staff  Education and training  Crew-information  Define responsibilities/plans for action  Prepare visitor information  Communicate policy to interests  Coordinate schedules AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Planing and preparation  Establish incident reporting system  Ensure communication with authorities  Establish reporting system for sighting of scientific/authority interest – trip log AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Pre-landing information  What to see  Safety rules  Environmental procedures  Divide into groups  Stay in groups  No disturbance – take nothing with you – leave nothing behind AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Before the visit  Information to local community  Plan schedule in co-operation  Be flexible  Continuous information on deviation AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Shore based activities  Regarded as protected  Do not remove anything  Leave nothing behind  Be considerate of others AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Site considerations and landing plans  Avoid other ships  Plan your landing  Minimize negative consequences  Refrain from landing in melting season/wet areas  No more than 100 visitors ashore  Small groups <30  Guide to visitor 1:20  Report incidents AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Considerations at military facilities  Do not visit  Closed to the public  Do not ask to visit AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Search and Rescue Considerations  Limited resources  Keep contact with authorities  Report in accordance with local demands AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Evaluation of planning procedures  Evaluate planning Preparation of operation in view of responsible, environmentally-friendly and safety measures – with the of improving operations and/or guidelines AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Zodiac operations  Adequate equipment  Capacity  At least two zodiacs together  Life west  Dead man string  Rifles ashore first  Drivers competence AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Zodiac driving procedures  Slow down by birds and animals  Avoid sudden and repeated changes in direction  Research information about condition  Reconnaissance if necessary – without passengers AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Zodiac passengers handling procedures  Mandatory briefing  Demonstrations  Life vest properly on  Sailors’ grip  Designated seats  Balance the boat  Remain seated  Secure equipment AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Ice, Glaciers and Iceberg  Drift ice challenges  Keep distance to glacier fronts  Icebergs are potentially unstable  Calving or rolling may cause waves  The use of laser range finders is recommended AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Vildlife viewing  AECO regards all of the Arctic outside settlements as protected areas (protected species)  Non-disturbance distance  Avoid loud noise  Use AECO’s wildlife guidelines AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Walrus  Information / Small groups  Change in behavior  Avoid making a half-circle around  Never take position between a walrus and the sea  Minimum buffer zone: 30 meters  Mother with calves, minimum buffer zone: 150 meters  Walrus on ice: same careful approach  Swimming walrus: potential danger AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Birds ashore  Avoid landings on areas with large concentrations of nesting birds.  Keep distance from nesting birds  Dive-bombed by skuas/Arctic terns – retreat the way you came.  Waders acting hurt – retreat or follow the bird AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Birds on water  Do not drive into flocks of birds sitting on the water.  Stay on the fringes of bird concentrations  Ships’ buffer zone: 100 m  Zodiacs’ buffer zone: 30 m AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Bird cliffs  Keep distance  No ship siren, shooting or loud noise within 1 nm  Disturbance may cause ”pre-jumping” AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Seals  Do not chase swimming seals  Change in behavior  Pups left alone  Harbor seals on haul outs – minimum buffer zone: 100 m AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Whales  If whales approach - Slow down and put engines in neutral  Avoid excess engine use  Do not ”box-in” whales  Avoid sudden and repeated change of direction AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Reindeer & Arctic Fox  Do not approach, follow or chase reindeer  Do not feed Arctic fox – arctic foxes are known to have had rabies and are quick to learn begging humans for food AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Arctic Dogs  Potentially dangerous  Never approach or attempt to pet or feed Arctic dogs without permission and supervision from the dog owner/handler AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Polar Bears  Inform your guests  Avoid confrontations  Always be vigilant  Never feed or follow – on land or in water  Never put pressure or be pressured  Take the polar bear danger seriously  It is prohibited to lure, pursue or otherwise seek out polar bears in such a way as to disturb them or expose either bears or humans to danger AECO guidelines presentation 2015

In proximity of polar bears ashore  Plan ahead  Report  If low visibility – do not land  Frighten off  Never approach  Shoot to kill AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Polar bears and vessels  Do not attempt to approach bears closer than 200 meters with the vessel  Small vessels must not allow bears to approach the broadside  Close portholes  Do not lean over broadside on small vessels AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Polar bears and zodiacs  Keep at least 50 meters between the bear and the zodiac  Be position and at alert to leave quickly  Never follow or approach a swimming bear – from any angle AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Firearms ashore  Keep overview of your group  Never let visitors walk alone  Half-load immediately  Load in risk-situation  Unload chamber when risk ends  Do not walk around with loaded chamber.  Never let guests handle your firearms AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Firearms - Environment & Safety  Rifle caliber.308 Win or larger – expanding ammunition  ”Personal” rifles  Training  Test your weapons  Signal guns  Never point at anyone AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Firearms – Storage & Transportation  Store weapons and ammunition in lockers  Maintain and clean  Cover to protect  Never loaded or half-loaded in zodiacs AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Safety hazards  Along shore  Rivers  Hidden ice  Glaciers  Weather  Visitors hiking capacity AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Entanglement and Stranded Animals  Assist when possible  Take photographs  Record details  Report to the authorities AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Vegetation & landscape  Do not step on flowers or plant beds  Use already established paths  Do not build cairns  Do not remove objects from dead animals AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Geology  Avoid making visible trails  Thermal wells – sensitive vegetation  Do not remove fossils or stones AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Historic sites & cultural remains  Svalbard sites from before 1945  100 m security zone  Stay around  Do not remove or rearrange  Non visible objects  Walk around graveyards  Do not enter old house grounds or trapping stations AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Clean Up Svalbard Project  Inform guests  Beware difference between garbage and cultural remains  Unsure – do not remove  Organize in accordance to agreement AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Social Interaction Objectives  To support members in their effort to conduct respectable interaction with people and cultures, and to maximize local communities’ benefits from tourism AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Cultural Understanding  Most relevant in small towns/settlement  Applies in every town or settlement  Respect local cultures  Work against prejudiced attitudes  Staff are role models – lay claim to staff members  Inform/educate guests about local history, contemporary culture, norms and values AECO guidelines presentation 2015

When visiting  Research information  Never barter or import banned substances  Respect privacy  Talk to – not about  Ask before you visit areas of religious and cultural importance AECO guidelines presentation 2015

When visiting  Ask before you photograph  Respect privacy (keep away from windows)  Do not alter cairns – may be signposts  If possible invite locals onboard  Encourage guests to buy local souvenirs and products but beware of CITES AECO guidelines presentation 2015

Provide benefits  Use and pay for dock facilities  Use local ship agents  Purchase activities  Local guides/guides with local affiliation  Assistance/guidance in developing tourism activities AECO guidelines presentation 2015

 Tourism can be a great way of learning about promoting and creating tolerance between people with different backgrounds and cultures  Do not judge other cultures based on own sense of reality, norms and values  Cultures are different AECO guidelines presentation 2015 Tolerance

Do not expect to find everything as it is at home – you have left home to find things different

More Information AECO‘s operational guidelines: Guidelines1.doc AECO’s guidelines for Visitors to the Arctic: English: Norwegian: German: AECO site guidelines - Svalbard: AECO web site: AECO guidelines presentation 2015