18 JULY 2019 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES C hannels of daily communica- tion locally and on a broader scale, includes more dialogue related to the current and future state of the natural environment and marine ecosystem than ever before. This begs the questions: will the waterways and oceans where we work and live be affected? If so, how? In some cases, sea level rise, pollution or garbage is a stark reality that has adversely impacted our businesses and communities. The ocean is the heart of the climate and humans are reliant on the ocean, just as the ocean requires human protection. The concept of environmental sustain- ability in the maritime sector is where our conversation starts to address our part in waterways protection as an industry. The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defines environmental sustainability as, “the ability to meet the needs of the present without com- promising the ability of future genera- tions to meet their own needs.” The maritime sector operates within the domain of the marine ecosystem, so the decision to support marine health for future generations of people and busi- nesses is upon us. Many PVAmembers are focused on environmental sustainability as fun- damental values in their operations for marine protection and responsible management. Embracing these values is a key motivator to issues related to human impacts upon the marine en- vironment and how it is adversely affecting our oceans. Mariners who operate through the values of marine protection and re- sponsible management demonstrate corporate social responsibility in this arena. Large, overnight cruise lines may be considering the benefit of adopting these values due to the recently pub- licized issue of illegal dumping practices. In April, a proposed legal agreement was issued by the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, against Princess Cruise Line, Ltd. and its corporate parent (Carnival Environmental Sustainability and Creating Shared Values in the Maritime Sector By Margaret Foster-Roesner, Alcatraz Cruises and Hornblower Companies