Ecotourism
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As a tourism operator within the pristine Whitsunday Islands and close to the Great Barrier Reef, it is our duty of care to consider our impact on the local environment and educate our visitors on best practice
We educate our yacht charter guests on how to enjoy this slice of paradise without having a negative impact on our local environment. We also hope that visitors will be moved to take sustainable practices or ideas with them so that a holiday experience around ecotourism principles can have a positive rippling effect.
Eco-Tourism Certification
Whitsunday Rent A Yacht is recognised as a Green Travel Leader by Ecotourism Australia, having held ECO Certification for over 10 years.
Our Ecotourism Certification offers reassurance for the conscious traveller. When you embark on a bareboat charter with us through the Whitsundays, you can trust that your holiday is not having a negative impact on the incredible location you’re in.
Feel free to read more about the guidelines on acquiring eco-certification on the Eco-Tourism Australia website.
Our Commitment to Sustainable Tourism
At the commencement of your charter, our experienced local briefers will assist you to understand how to care for ‘our backyard’ while undertaking the adventure of a lifetime.
To ensure that our charter operations do not adversely impact our local environment, we provide a Minimal Impact Guide onboard our vessels, which outline the important steps that our charterers should take to care for the environment in which they are enjoying their holiday – this includes steps such as ‘taking only photographs and leaving only footprints’, not anchoring or standing on corals, returning and separating all waste to be recycled ashore as well as encouragement to assist in collecting any marine debris found ashore while on charter. We also provide a zoning map from the GBRMPA, a visitor information guide from Queensland National Parks along with the 100 Magic Miles Cruising Guide, all of which provide important information on respecting our natural environment for future visitors and generations.
Our Sustainable Tourism Partnerships
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is Australia’s lead manager of the Great Barrier Reef. The authority was established over 40 years ago in order to manage this national icon and ensure its protection into the future.
As an operator within the Great Barrier Reef; Whitsunday Rent A Yacht supports the GBRMPA authority in its commitment to the protection of the reef, this is done through the following methods:
- Educating our charterers on Responsible Reef Practices, including advising our charterers of reef protection and marine park zoning areas, ensuring they respect and follow all restrictions and regulations.
- Encouraging our charterers to utilise the free network of public moorings, which ensure a lesser impact on the seafloor, compared to anchoring – wherever possible.
- Collecting an Environmental Management Charge on behalf of GBRMPA, the funds from which are used towards the vital day-to-day management of the Marine Park, as well as funding public moorings, reef protection markers and education programs.
- Maintaining the appropriate GBRMPA vessel permits, allowing us to operate within the Marine Park.
Eco Barge was established in Airlie Beach to engage the community to protect the precious marine life and aquatic environment of the Whitsunday Region. This is a not-for-profit organisation with a passionate and dedicated team of members and over 950 registered volunteers.
The Whitsunday Rent A Yacht team regularly participate in a cleanup activity as part of Eco Barge’s Whitsunday Marine Debris Removal Program which focused on removing marine debris from Island beaches.
201,919 kilograms of marine debris/litter removed from the Whitsunday islands since July 2009
The Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre was launched in May 2013 to ensure that any sick or injured marine turtles within the Whitsunday Region are provided with the care that they need.
The Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre has five quarantine tanks and to-date has provided care for over 100 turtles. With a dedicated response team, The Rescue Centre aims to provide a fast and efficient response to any turtle in-need within the region.
Whitsunday Rent A Yacht are proud supporters of the work that the WTRC does and provide old blankets, sheets and out of date first aid supplies that are no longer of use on our vessels. These valuable resources are used during the rescue and rehabilitation process of our Whitsunday resident turtles.
We provide the turtle rescue team with access to our jetty for any turtles found injured or sick in the surrounding Shute Harbour area.
If you ever see a sick or injured marine turtle please contact the RSPCA Qld animal stranding hotline on 1300 ANIMAL (264 625)