Browsing by Subject "Iceland"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
A Comparison of Values around Cruise Tax in Iceland and Alaska
(2018) Stith, Michaela
Cruise ships pose many environmental harms: they emit more black carbon and CO₂ per passenger-mile than any other vehicle, discharge untreated sewage and wastewater into the open ocean, carry large quantities of heavy fuel oil onboard, and transport invasive species via ballast water. As the Arctic Ocean melts and becomes more accessible to marine vessels, cruise lines have taken advantage of the “last chance tourism” phenomenon and increased the numbers of cruise ships that tour the Arctic. Without sufficient regulation, the influx of cruise ships could create negative impacts for the Arctic environment. In this study I use Alaska’s Cruise Ship Tax Initiative as a model for cruise regulation and examine the high-level values that would influence Icelanders to adopt a similar, explicitly environmental per-passenger cruise tax. To determine the values to which advocates of a cruise tax should appeal, we interviewed twenty policymakers and stakeholders in Ísafjörður and Reykjavík, Iceland with the laddering method. As an extension of the study I interviewed one government administrator and one cruise tax advocate in Southeast Alaska to compile lessons learned from the implementation of the Alaska Cruise Ship Tax Initiative. The values from each location were compared to find which lessons would be relevant for Icelanders. The value categories that would influence the tax’s implementation were good governance, cultural richness, quality of life, regional survival, economic growth, nature’s inherent value and resource-based life. Icelandic participants showed low faith in government’s efficacy – i.e. ability to do what it says it will do – and expressed concerns that dependence on tourism and the national government’s marginalization of the Westfjords could negatively impact regional survival. Overall, sustainable tourism development and environmental protection of natural areas were favored by Icelandic interviewees. To advocate a per-passenger environmental tax, stakeholders and policymakers could emphasize the tax’s capacity to encourage sustainable tourism development by building environmental infrastructure (especially paths and waste treatment facilities) and limiting mass tourism. Based on Alaskan experiences, Icelanders should strongly reconsider their dismissal of monitoring if they want to ensure a pristine environment.
Open Access
Kelponomics: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Global Seaweed Industry with Sustainable Strategies for Growth in the Icelandic Market
(2024-04-26) Purcell, Emily; Quintero, Juan Pablo
Kelp, a versatile and sustainable marine resource, has gained increasing attention globally due to its various applications in food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Kelp plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by providing vital habitat, promoting biodiversity, and regulating nutrient absorption and carbon storage, yet its loss due to factors such as climate change, predation, pollution, and habitat degradation poses significant risks to kelp forests globally. In the context of Iceland's unique marine ecosystem and leadership in sustainable industries, this report evaluates the current state of the global kelp industry, its economic viability, environmental impacts, and potential opportunities and benefits for Iceland. Our team conducted a comprehensive literature review to analyze global kelp markets and coupled this with extensive primary and secondary research to apply our findings to the Icelandic context. We also investigated current wild harvest and potential aquaculture sites through a geospatial mapping exercise. Based on these analyses, this report presents a set of recommendations for the Icelandic market to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the kelp industry while simultaneously promoting and protecting this environmentally valuable resource. These recommendations encompass viable end-use markets, circular economy principles, policy considerations, and areas for future research. This report will provide a roadmap for the integration of kelp cultivation and processing into Iceland's economic and ecological landscape, fostering sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.
Open Access
The Whale Community of Husavik: Examining Perceptions & Experiences Surrounding Whale Ecotourism & Conservation
(2017-04-28) Reiter, Erika
The whale watching industry is rapidly expanding throughout the world. Researchers have found that the experience of whale watching holds value within the context of ecological education and can foster a sensitivity towards environmental issues. Meanwhile, other researchers are concerned that the industry will do more harm than good to vulnerable populations of whales. This research explores these concerns in Husavik, a town in northern Iceland that largely owes its success to the diversity of its whale ecotourism opportunities. Through semi-structured interviews with individuals with careers within (or in collaboration with) the whale watching industry in Husavik, data was collected on current perceptions of the industry and larger issues surrounding whale conservation. Within these topics, barriers were explored that exist within the local environment that threaten both the industry and the whales, as well as the over-arching narrative of those working within the industry.