Maersk Line fights illegal wildlife trafficking
Maersk Line joins other global transport leaders in a landmark agreement to fight illegal wildlife trade, the company said in its press release.
After a year of negotiations and meetings in London, Geneva and Dubai, the Declaration of the United for Wildlife International Taskforce on the Transportation of Illegal Wildlife Products outlines 11 commitments to “help bring an end to the illegal trade in wildlife.”
“The transport industry has a critical role to play in stopping illegal ivory and rhino horn being trafficked at a global level and stamping out this criminality. This Declaration offers a real prospect of making the transportation of illegal wildlife products practically and economically unviable, by encouraging transport companies to take a stand and by targeting key routes and ports to disrupt this illicit trade,” reads the introduction to the Declaration signed by Prince William and The Lord Hague of Richmond.
With the Buckingham Palace Declaration, the signatories from 40 airlines, shipping firms, port operators, customs agencies, intergovernmental organisations and conservation charities agree to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against illegal wildlife trade, develop mechanisms to enable the transport sector to receive timely information and identify and promote systems to report suspicions in relation to the transportation of illegal wildlife and their products.
They will also support the development of methods by the World Customs Organisation and national customs authorities in uncovering and thwarting trade in illegal wildlife and products.
Maersk Line will work with the World Customs Organisation and other taskforce members to develop and implement mechanisms that enable the transport sector to receive improved information about the transport of suspected illegal wildlife and related products, including methods of transportation, key routes, ports and other locations.
