<p>Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world&rsquo;s largest cruise industry group, today reaffirmed the industry&rsquo;s continued commitment to the environment and advanced wastewater treatment management, in response to public statements concerning member cruise line operations in the Baltic Sea.&nbsp;</p><p>In a recent public statement, Mats Abrahamsson, Program Director of the World Wildlife Fund Baltic Ecoregion Program said, &ldquo;It should be the responsibility of anyone operating a ship in the Baltic Sea to take care of their own wastes in a responsible manner.&rdquo;</p><p>In response, Terry Dale, President and CEO of CLIA, said:</p><p>&ldquo;A recent study conducted by the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland reported that cruise ships contribute only a tiny fraction of the nutrients released into the sea &ndash; <strong>less than 1 percent</strong>.</p><p>&ldquo;CLIA member companies adopted stringent wastewater treatment practices nearly a decade ago, and have operated in accordance with these practices since that time.&nbsp;Additionally, where available and reasonable, ships discharge wastewaters to shore facilities in Baltic Sea cruise ports. &nbsp;Moreover, many cruise lines have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in advanced onboard systems that treat wastewater to the highest standards available.</p><p>&ldquo;As an industry deeply committed to the protection of the environment, we look forward to continuing to work with the WWF as well as the ports, the maritime industry, land-based facilities and local government to protect the Baltic for generations to come.&rdquo;</p><p>Dale noted that since 2007, CLIA has worked closely with the WWF to share information and find solutions to the environmental challenges in the Baltic region.&nbsp; He also called for a collaborative effort to control all sources of nutrients contributing to issues in the Baltic Sea, whether from land or sea.</p><p>&ldquo;A truly effective effort would include farm operations, industrial facilities and municipal wastewater treatment plants, in addition to ports and the maritime industry,&rdquo; Dale said.&nbsp;</p><p>All members of the Cruise Lines International Association operating in the Baltic Sea &ndash; and all over the world &ndash; meet or exceed the&nbsp;discharge standards for sewage set by the International Maritime Organization, Dale noted.</p>