World Oceans Day puts the spotlight on sustainable tourism
Ian Stalker
Photo: Baros Maldives
World Oceans Day clearly didn’t go unnoticed by the travel industry.
The June 8 commemoration aimed at raising awareness of oceans and issues jeopardizing their health was acknowledged by tourist boards and hotel companies around the globe, all of which were eager to help ensure healthy marine habitats.
Here are some of their inspiring efforts.
Helping coral reefs recover
Baros Maldives, The Maldives
Photos: Baros Maldives
Baros Maldives has a new way for guests to help coral reefs recover and thrive, with its marine biology team having introduced an innovative way to initiate coral restoration.
Custom-made cement Coral Cubes allow coral pieces that have broken off from the coral, but are still alive, reattached. The Coral Cubes are then placed in an area of a reef that was damaged or in distress. As they are small and mobile, yet heavy and sturdy, they do not get washed away by the current.
“A world-class coral reef surrounds Baros, and the resort strives to care for the corals as they are fragile, living creatures that suffer under climate change with the oceans’ water temperature increasing. The resident marine biologist and marine consultants are dedicated to protecting and maintaining the Baros house reef by restoring the areas that need support,” the resort says.
Baros is a boutique, private island of 75 overwater and beachside garden villas and white-sand beaches set in a turquoise lagoon 25 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives International Airport. Guests can relax in a tranquil, tropical setting, dine in Baros’ three restaurants and bars or on a secluded sandbank or the unique Piano Deck in the middle of the lagoon, as well as snorkel around the flourishing house-reef.
Corals are essential as a nursery and home for fish, turtles, reef sharks and many more marine animals, and the coral reef also protects the islands from strong currents and waves and prevents erosion.
The Coral Cube technique is environmentally friendly and does not use plastic, such as cable ties or plastic tags. The wooden molds can be reused, and the corals are stuck in the cement directly which is not harmful to the environment. No waste is left behind.
“For guests, this project is a wonderful opportunity to take part in a meaningful activity, learn about the fragile corals and their habitat, and create a small eco footprint,” the resort says. “This experience is free of charge, fun and educational for guests of all ages (swimming ability required). The Coral Cubes that guests plant and place in the reef in different locations and depth are monitored carefully by the marine biologists to learn more and determine the most promising planting strategy. For guests who would like their support to be imprinted, for a small fee, the Coral Cubes can be customized with the initials of the guests upon request and pre-order.”
For more information, visit www.baros.com.
Dolphins roam free
Melissa Matlow, World Animal Protection
Melissa Matlow says World Oceans Day is a great way to remind us that the world’s oceans provide opportunities to spot free roaming dolphins.
“World Oceans Day, and it is the perfect day for us as Canadians to come together to appreciate the three oceans that surround our country and the incredible wildlife that inhabit them – including dolphins,” says Matlow, with World Animal Protection.
“Perhaps you have been lucky enough to witness a pod of dolphins, swim alongside you during a ferry ride in B.C., caught a glimpse of the Atlantic white-sided dolphins in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or you may have spotted a killer whale while on a tour boat in Tofino (yes, they are dolphins too!).
“Even if you have only had a chance to witness dolphins in the wild on TV, you likely agree with the quote below from our USA programs director, Ben Williamson, which he stated after witnessing a pod of dolphins at Dana Point (California), which recently became the first ever Whale Heritage site in the USA.:
‘There’s something so beautiful about seeing these animals in their natural habitat where they belong,” Williamson said. “Out here, we’re really in their home. We’re just guests in their world. We’re not their captors or their trainers. They’re not out here performing for us or doing tricks. They’re just doing what comes naturally to them, swimming in pods, feeding, and seeking a mate.”
Safeguarding one of its most prized possessions
Seychelles
The Seychelles Islands says it’s proud to safeguard one of its most prized possessions — its ocean surroundings.
“Surrounded by turquoise waters and vibrant marine life, it is no wonder that the Seychelles Islands have vowed to keep their ocean from harm,” tourism authorities state. “In March 2020, the island nation’s government announced the extension of the protected marine area to 30% of its waters, an area larger than Germany.”
The islands previously made headlines by banning plastic straws and bags in efforts to reach its goal of becoming a plastic-free nation, with its most recent move being banning balloons.
The archipelago’s achievements would be nothing without support from the local community, government, NGOs and other conservation groups.
Global Vision International runs volunteer and international education programs, with expedition bases in Cap Ternay on Mahé, and Curieuse islands. GVI volunteers work on critical marine conservation projects and contribute towards various conservation-related surveys.
Nature Seychelles manages the Cousin Island Special Reserve, one of the oldest marine protected areas in the Seychelles, and the reserve has since been transformed into a thriving sanctuary for several endemic species and an important site for hawksbill turtles.
Island Conservation Society is responsible for the conservation management on Alphonse, Desroches, Farquhar and Silhouette, advising, managing environmental and conservation issues on outer islands under the lease of the Islands Development Company.
Seychelles Island Foundation is a public trust established by the local government, which manages and protects two World Heritage Sites, Aldabra and Vallée de Mai. Aldabra is the world’s largest raised coral atoll and a refuge for many endangered species requiring protection.
Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S) promotes sustainable living involving Seychellois, government and partners. The organization aims at combining traditional Creole practices that are in harmony with nature and modern technological innovations that help make lives easier without harming the environment.
The Ocean Project is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established in response to the mounting threats affecting Seychelles oceans and seas. Its mission is to protect oceans and seas through education, action and research and with projects including beach clean-ups and campaigns encouraging the reduced use of plastic products.
Save Our Seas Foundation is based in Switzerland, funds and supports research, conservation and education programs. The foundation has a biological field station based on D’Arros Island in the Amirantes Group, which conducts research on D’Arros Island and St Joseph and the waters around them. It also has a Marine Explorers Program for young people and a Youth Ocean Ambassadorship program developed to mentor future leaders in ocean conservation.
Global Impact Network – The Seychelles Islands officially became the first destination to create its online community page on the sustainability platform on World Environment Day 2021. Global Impact Network is an app that allows individuals and organizations to take action anywhere and for any ecologically oriented cause.
“In sharing our pristine paradise with you, we are entrusting you with our most cherished treasure. You can join us on our mission to protect our oceans through gestures that could even enhance your island experience,” tourism authorities say.
Atlantis Paradise Island celebrates oceans all month long
Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas is doing its part this month to celebrate oceans.
On property throughout June, the resort has a number of activities to draw awareness to oceans, including both guest-facing activities and employee initiatives:
- Behind-the-Blue Tours– Offered weekly in June, this educational, behind-the-scenes tour, geared towards teens/tweens and older, will be focused on educating guests on the resort’s and Atlantis Blue Project Foundation’s efforts to help save oceans.
- Great Hall of Waters Exhibit– In this aquatic exhibit, guests can view and learn more about Atlantis Paradise Island’s marine life, including small tooth sawfish, Manny the Manatee, the 15-year history of the resort’s rescued Katrina Dolphins, the rescue story of a dolphin called M&M (Modern Miracle), sea turtle releases, and more.
- World Ocean Day Scavenger Hunt (every Tuesday in June) – Families can participate in a special ocean-themed scavenger hunt, taking them through Atlantis’s marine habitat, Dolphin Cay, and more, for a chance to win a Snorkel the Ruins and Dolphin Cay experience
- Ocean-themed movies will be playing in the Atlantis Theatre throughout June
- Blue Pastries including blue iced and fish shaped cookies and curaçao/pineapple and coconut blue cupcakes will be available for purchase in Plato’s and Sun & Ice throughout June
- Shark and StingRay Release took place on June 8
- Virtual field trips will be offered to schools in New York, South Florida and locally
- Employee initiatives include mangrove planting in a designated wetland restoration area
A portion of proceeds for the Behind-the-Blue Tours and the blue pastries will be donated to the resort’s non-profit organization, Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, which saves rare and endangered sea species and their habitats throughout The Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean Sea. The foundation is responsible for initiatives to help save the oceans, including helping critically endangered animals, harvesting coral to restore reefs, rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals in their onsite animal hospital (the Caribbean’s first) and more.
Marking World Oceans Day with a special donation
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line marked World Oceans Day by reaching deeply into its pockets.
The cruise company donated $25,000 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) and announced that the artist will create a custom masterpiece that will wrap the Lighthouse on Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas.
The donation, which is part of a continued partnership to raise awareness about the importance of ocean conservation, will further benefit the foundation’s scientific research, including first-of-its-kind shark tracking programs, which have revealed discovery insights into the lives of these species and therefore encouraged increased protection efforts. The donation will also assist in the development and availability of the GHOF Educational Program, designed to provide a state-standardized curriculum that introduces students K-12 to the beauty of the world’s oceans and its delicate ecosystem.
“I am thrilled to celebrate World Oceans Day with Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Harvey. “NCL’s support of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has been instrumental in conducting our cutting-edge marine research and engaging cruisers with our award-winning video content and educational programs. We all look forward to safely getting back out on the water to sustainably enjoy our ocean resources.”
As part of the partnership, Guy Harvey’s iconic marine wildlife depictions including sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and more will decorate the Great Stirrup Cay’s Lighthouse, which at nearly 100 feet high, also serves as the launch pad to the private island’s zipline, which spans a total of 1,200 feet long at 110 feet above the ground. Later this year, guests will be able to enjoy it, zipping to new heights and taking in endless ocean vistas.
“We have a responsibility to protect our ocean resources now and for future generations to come,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer at Norwegian Cruise Line. “Through our global corporate sustainability program, Sail & Sustain, we are always looking for new partnerships, technologies and processes to protect and preserve the world around us. Our continued partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has allowed us to continue to fulfill our environmental commitments of preservation, while also fostering a culture of awareness among our guests.”
Norwegian Cruise Line and GHOF have a long-standing partnership of working together to bring awareness to the importance of protecting marine wildlife and the benefits of a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem through various initiatives, including annual conservation cruises aboard Norwegian Escape, whose hull art was designed byHarvey and depicts an underwater scene. During these voyages, guests have the opportunity to interact with Harvey through curated events and panel discussions led by himself and experts and scientists from Nova Southeastern University’s Guy Harvey Research Institute. The observation cruise will take place in 2022.
As part of its sustainability initiatives, NCL became the first major cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles across its 17-ship fleet and private islands, replacing over six million single-use plastic water bottles each year through its partnership with JUST Goods, Inc. The company has also eliminated all single-use plastic straws, plates and cutlery on Great Stirrup Cay.
The partnership between the brand’s parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University includes a coral reef restoration initiative to reduce the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors around the coral reefs surrounding Great Stirrup Cay as part of its global corporate sustainability program Sail & Sustain. Through this program, the company has launched many successful initiatives to mitigate waste, invest in new technologies to improve fuel and energy efficiency and promote water conservation and management across the fleet.
Strengthening sustainability initiatives
Grupo Pinero, Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts
Meanwhile, Grupo Piñero, parent company of Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts has strengthened its sustainability initiatives and has a new eco-friendly campaign in line with its efforts to preserve and protect the natural environments in which they operate. The Spain-based brand, which complies with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, invested nearly US$10 million in 2020 towards projects linked to helping the environment, including reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting local biodiversity.
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, under the direction of Grupo Piñero, aims to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2024 and has a series of water conservation efforts, such as proper water treatment and its adequate reuse. Equally as important, the hospitality conglomerate was able to reach the following milestones in 2020:
- more than 15,000 plants grew within the properties they hold, 90% of them are plant species at risk of extinction;
- utilizing primarily native flora to improve Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo’s and Playa Nueva Romana’s landscaping in the Dominican Republic;
- arranging a consistent schedule of environmentally friendly activities for guests presented by Ecobahia Foundation, Bahia Principe’s non-profit organization aimed at environmental protection;
- held internal audits to ensure all business units were complying with pre established procedures.
In honour of World Environment Day, Grupo Piñero launched the “We Are Ecocentric” campaign inviting its guests and stakeholders to actively pursue being eco-friendly. The campaign will promote the company’s past efforts to conserve nature and will share tips and initiatives to allow others to become more aware of, and better protect, their surroundings.
“We are proud of our most recent achievements, yet we are aiming to do much more. At Grupo Piñero, we are certain that by working together we can help achieve a cleaner planet and better educate our society. That is one of the reasons why we launched the new ‘We Are Ecocentric’ campaign, to urge our partners, employees, guests and beyond to take care of the extraordinary planet we live on,” said Isabel Piñero, chief strategy officer at Grupo Piñero.
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts is committed to reducing the impact they have on the environment as their parent company currently manages a sweeping 130 million square feet of land spread across 27 hotels and residential properties in Spain, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, counting four golf courses and over four miles of Caribbean beaches.
