SeaOman has strengthened its commitment to protecting coral reefs through sustainable tourism by becoming the first digital member of Green Fins in the Sultanate of Oman. Established in 2004, Green Fins is the world’s first independent certificate to stop the environmental impact from marine-based tourism. SeaOman’s practices already aligned with many of the goals of Green Fins and with member status the two organisations can work towards a future where environmentally friendly practices are standard across the marine tourism industry.
Khamis Al Anbouri, Commercial Director at Oman Sail, said, “Oman is blessed with a wonderfully diverse natural environment and SeaOman is proud to continue sharing this beautiful underwater world with global visitors while always being considerate of nature. Snorkelling and other forms of marine tourism are fantastic activities to introduce people to the marine environment, share our nation with visitors, and create new ocean advocates. However, unmanaged, these activities can have negative impacts on fragile ecosystems like coral reefs. It is our goal to champion conservation efforts and share that message with more people across Oman and around the world.”
“We happily committed to following the Green Fins code of conduct, as many of the practices align with what we were already doing, making it a natural fit. We already enforce a strict no touch policy for marine life, use reef friendly sunblock, and participate in conservation projects throughout the year to lead by example. Being a member of Green Fins underlines this commitment and shows the world that Oman Sail and SeaOman are responsible operators.”
The Green Fins Code of Conduct outlines 15 environmental standards for marine tourism operations to adopt. This comprehensive list covers best practices for both above and below the water and considers the role of managers, operator staff and tourists, and although designed around protecting coral reefs, these standards can apply to all marine environments
Coral reefs cover 1% of the seafloor but coral reefs hold 25% of all marine life, making the reefs some of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs provide the planet with many benefits, such as plentiful seafood, a first line of defence against storms, and cutting-edge medicines developed to treat cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other illnesses – and many more.
Green Fins is a proven conservation management approach – implemented internationally by The Reef-World Foundation and the UN Environment Programme – which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with marine tourism. It aims to protect coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines promoting sustainable diving and snorkelling. It provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for marine tourism and its robust assessment system measures compliance.
Green Fins encourages and empowers divers, snorkellers, the diving industry and coastal communities to reduce the pressures on coral reefs by offering marine tourism companies practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices – such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution – as well as providing strategic training, support and resources. Find out more about SeaOman at seaoman.com. More information about Green Fins is available at greenfins.net.
Sea Oman offers a variety of recreational and sports services for visitors and enthusiasts, where they can learn sailing, diving, water skiing, and rent boats, whether they are beginners or professionals. The center can also plan customized holiday packages, and a more extensive overview of the center’s services can be found on its official website: www.seaoman.com
