Cruise ships using Caribbean Sea as dump

I think eco-tourism is a more realistic approach to teach people, as people just won't want to keep tourism local as well.

Jarrett,

Easy to make a generalized statement that the "cruise industry is a huge environmental problem" The problem is that it is your opinion and not based on fact. Do a little research before you decide whats a problem. In fact, every cruise ship is a self contained eco system,  not only storing all it's waste, but in some cases recycling and filtering water back to the ship so it doesn't even need to take on fresh water at any of it's port of call. They don't even want passengers to flick a cigarette butt overboard, but I guess they dump tonnes of garbage into the sea. Like no one would figure it out, discover it or report it. They are a for profit industry and it's not in their best interest to throw shit where they earn. Let's destroy the beauty of where we make our living so no one wants to come with us anymore. Please educate yourself before making mindless statements and don't fall prey to the know nothings out there who scream wolf when a mouse runs across their path. If you have some facts that you can site that "The cruise industry is a huge environmental problem" Exactly how is that a problem? I'd be glad to hear about them...not stories or supposition, but facts.

Thank you Kuuva, for adding this link, it shows the larger picture.

What exactly does this map show? What human impact does it show? Pieces of trach per nautical mile? The number of times a ship has sailed a certain path? Anyone can make a map say anything they want. In fact I have made maps that that look exactly alike and say exactly the opposite things. By looking at either map you would belive whatever I wanted you to believe. Please, people, don't believe everything you see...

Amy,

Please take a cruise and go on the ships tour and you will learn that the environmental innuendo spread in this story, is like the garbage they accuse the cruise ships of dumping at sea...the innuendo is baseless and without fact. This "story" if you want to call it that, has no facts in it does it? It talks about the laws that have been passed regarding dumping at sea and really nothing else of any fact is included. There are no examples of where any of this environmental "damage" has taken place. Modern cruise ships are models of eco friendly systems that don't dump their garbage where they make their money. Why would they do that? Someone onboard would report it. You don't dump trash in your bed do you? Of course not. There is alot of lies spread in the name of the environment and we can't always know why someone is doing it. All I can tell you is that I have been to most of the islands in the Caribbean and have never seen any evidence of massive dunping anywhere, The islands shores are clean beautiful and none of the native islanders have ever told me about it ever happening. Proof is better than accusation...Please take the opportunity to educate yourself and learn what modern cruise ships are like and you will find it's an amazing way to see alot, relax and have fun. Take care and don't always believe everything you read...

Very enlightening report, especially about the taxes and the workers.  Thanks for adding it.

Read the report...Thanks for sharing. I have a few questions though...

First ...who is Ross Klein? Whats his dog in this fight, what are his qualifications.

Second and most importantly he presents this "paper" as though it's a term paper or thesis

for a degree but amazingly has no sources stated  for his "facts" about waste that a ship

creates. Is he making them up? Where is the verifiable truth in his statements. Without them,

it's a piece without any credibility. Anyone can say anything about anyone...doesn't make it

fact...

Pythiian,

Before believing any of this "garbage", let alone thanking Blue Crush, do a little investigating on your own and you will see that Blue Crush hasn't provided any information that is factual. All that's in the article is broad, general, baseless accusations. Show me a single presentation of fact... This is not helpful to the environment. It turns people off to the cause and is irresponsible. Under the flag of the 'New York Times" credibility is automatically assumed...really? I've always been taught never to assume anything without proof. Rather like calling a woman a loose woman or a slut without any evidence or facts...Unfair, but rather tantalizing and people tend to believe the innuendo as it's lacivious and jucy. Same here, the cruise industry doesn't dump in the Caribbean. I've been to almost every island and been on beaches on those islands. Never have I seen any evidence of garbage that had been dumped at sea. In fact almost all the beaches are pristine and free of trash. Even beachgoers put their trash in receptacles so as to keep the beach clean for the next day...Please understand that their are people who have agendas  will say anything to "save" the environmement without any danger exsisting in the first place. Usually it involves money somewhere. Maybe not soliciting directly from you, but usually money somewhere...Take care and don't believe everything you read...