Protecting the Arctic

Protecting the Arctic happens one action at a time. At Mystic Cruises, exploring some of the most remote and extraordinary destinations on the planet comes with a deep responsibility: helping to preserve them.

This responsibility is reflected in one of the company’s core values, We Are Protecting Our Environment, and takes shape both in the decisions made on board and in the actions carried out in the destinations we visit.

Among these initiatives are coastal clean-up campaigns, which involve crew and guests in removing waste found on beaches and in hard-to-reach coastal areas.

A season marked by action in Svalbard

During the current Arctic season, these initiatives have been especially frequent. In the space of just one month, Mystic Cruises teams carried out between five and six clean-up actions in different locations across Svalbard.

The areas covered included Kinnvika, Mushamna and the Seven Islands region, identified by the onboard teams as some of the places where a more significant presence of waste had been found.

Recently, our expedition team and guests took part in a clean-up activity organised by AECO – Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, in Mushamna.

Together, they collected around 15 kilograms of marine litter, including fragments of fishing nets, ropes, buoys and plastic debris.

Although the quantity and type of waste vary from place to place, these actions have revealed a frequent presence of materials linked to maritime activities, as well as plastics carried by ocean currents.

Even in regions that appear untouched and far removed from major urban centres, the effects of marine pollution remain visible.

Reaching places few can reach

The remote location of many beaches in Svalbard makes regular clean-up operations particularly difficult.

It is in this context that expedition ships can play a meaningful role. Their ability to reach isolated areas makes it possible not only to observe these ecosystems, but also to contribute in a concrete way to their conservation.

Whenever safety, weather, operational and environmental protection conditions allow, the teams organise waste collection during shore activities. Crew and guests work side by side, following the guidance of expedition professionals and respecting the characteristics of each site.

More than simply removing rubbish from a beach, these actions help raise awareness of the global scale of marine pollution. Waste that enters the oceans can travel vast distances before reaching remote coastlines, putting ecosystems and wildlife at risk.

A shared responsibility

Guest involvement is an essential part of these initiatives. By taking part in a clean-up action, travellers stop being mere observers of nature and begin contributing directly to the protection of the destination they are discovering.

This experience creates a more conscious connection with the territory and reinforces an essential message: preserving the environment is not the sole responsibility of organisations, governments or specialised teams. Every person can play a part.

Participation is always voluntary, but the response has been very positive. The collaboration between guests and crew turns each action into a moment of learning, cooperation and shared commitment.

From the shore to Longyearbyen

Collecting the waste is only part of the process. Once removed from the beaches, all the material must be transported and handled correctly.

Thanks to the coordination established by our Staff Captain Francisco with the local agent, the waste collected by Mystic Cruises teams can be landed free of charge in Longyearbyen and channelled through the local system designed to receive marine litter gathered through these initiatives.

This coordination is essential to ensure that the effort made ashore continues beyond the clean-up itself and that the collected materials receive the appropriate treatment.

It is also an example of the importance of collaboration between onboard teams, local partners and the organisations that work every day to preserve Svalbard.

A commitment that follows every voyage

The actions carried out in the Arctic are part of a broader and ongoing environmental commitment.

At Mystic Cruises, protecting the environment means integrating responsibility into operations, raising awareness among those who travel with us and seeking opportunities to generate a positive impact in the destinations we visit.

We know that a single action does not solve the global problem of marine pollution. Even so, every cleaned beach, every kilogram of waste removed and every person made more aware represents a step in the right direction.

Because exploring the world also means caring for it. And protecting the extraordinary places we have the privilege to visit is a responsibility that belongs to all of us.