Our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them are under threat. Pressures from transport and many industries, including tourism, are not making it any easier to find solutions to intractable problems. But the plight of our marine friends has not gone entirely unnoticed, certainly not by responsible tour operators.

Top predators of the marine ecosystem, sharks have been around for 400 million years and play a very important role in marine life. Whale sharks are the largest of the species.

To focus attention on the positive steps being taken all across the planet by some travel industry professionals, whl.travel supported a call by The International Ecotourism Society for articles about Beaches, Marine & Coastal Ecotourism Experiences that highlight opportunities and challenges facing the world’s beaches and oceans.

Although this was a summer 2009 special travel theme, we will continue to gather and post information about ethical actions taken by our local whl.travel partners and their friends in support of sustainable practices on, in and near our seas.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

WHALE SHARKS IN THE MALDIVES: PROTECTING A GENTLE GIANT

The Maldives has made its first contribution to the marine ecosystem by declaring a protected area for whale sharks. To look into their behaviour, one local program counts on travellers’ time and energy. MORE…

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COCONUT CRAB CONSERVATION IN VANUATU

When two tourism entrepreneurs in Vanuatu noted that the coconut crab was on the verge of being feasted into extinction, they began a movement that has succeeded in pulling coconut crabs off most menus. MORE…

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LOCAL PROACTIVE MARINE CONSER-VATION IN MADEIRA’S PARQUE NATURAL

The Garaju and Desertas Islands Nature Reserves of Madeira are pivotal in protecting this Portuguese island’s unique habitat of the Mediterranean Monk seal, a rare and endangered marine mammal. MORE…

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REACHING FOR VUNO’S CLEAN BEACH AT JAL, ALBANIA

In the hills above the southern Albanian Riviera, tiny Vuno is a gateway to the stunning Jal beaches. One tour operator is working locally to ensure the area benefits from travellers, but remains unspoiled by mass tourism. MORE…

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HUMPBACK WHALE CONSERVATION IN MORRO DE SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Elegant, mysterious and enormous, the humpback whale is breathtaking when seen up close. Interest in whalewatching tours has grown rapidly in coastal areas like Morro de São Paulo, Brazil, where tours support their survival. MORE…

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SAVING SEA TURTLES IN LOS ROQUES, VENEZUELA

The Caribbean waters of Los Roques are home to a rich marine biodiversity. One local organisation – Los Roques Scientific Foundation – has worked hard since 1963 to protect endangered species, including sea turtles. MORE…

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK (10/01/10): HAWKSBILL TURTLE, UBATUBA, BRAZIL

This is amazing shot of an endangered marine turtle species commonly seen swimming around the snorkelling and dive sites off the coast of Ubatuba. Along with it comes word of an organisation determined to protect it from extinction. MORE…

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