Environmental Performance Standards for the Marine Tourism Sector

Focus of Work: Standards have a long history of enhancing service quality, safety, and environmental performance across various industries. Successful businesses benefit by engaging in the standardization process and then applying standards to enhance performance and gain a strategic market advantage. As part of the Mesoamerican Reef Alliance Project (2004–2007), marine tour operators in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras partnered with the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) to develop and test marine recreation standards for scuba diving, snorkeling, and boat operations—focusing on effectiveness, attainability, affordability, and minimizing impact to sensitive marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.

Our Approach: Before founding Seatone, Rich Wilson directed the Mesoamerican Reef program for CORAL. In this capacity, Rich convened a collaborative process that engaged marine tour operators, marine protected area managers, civil society groups, scientists, and public officials in the development of environmental performance standards for the marine tourism sector across multiple destinations along the nearly 700 mile barrier reef system. In parallel, he designed and facilitated dozens of trainings in sustainable marine tourism and conservation planning, and oversaw a microgrant program that provided financial support for local conservation and sustainable tourism initiatives throughout the region.

Key Outcomes: The voluntary marine recreation standards developed through this collaboration have increased private sector engagement in sustainable practices, strengthened support for marine protected areas along the Mesoamerican Reef, and sparked many local conservation efforts. The standards were adapted by the Green Fins certification program and thus also help advance sustainable marine tourism in the Pacific. Before leaving CORAL in 2009, Rich utilized the standards to create a “Train the Trainers” program that equips tour guides to educate tourists about coral reefs and the need for their protection. Since its inception, the program, central to CORAL’s work in the region to this day, has trained thousands in the marine tourism sector.

• Voluntary Standards for the Marine Recreation in the Mesoamerican Reef System
• A Practical Guide to Good Practice: Managing Environmental Impacts in the Marine Recreation Sector
• A Self-Assessment Checklist for Marine Tour Operators