Be responsible!
The money you spend on your holiday helps determine the development and direction of tourism. Use your money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers.
Whether you are a diver, angler or just love the beach, by following these tips you can help protect our coastlines and marine environment.
- Ask local authorities or your dive shop how to protect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, beaches, and other marine habitats.
- Don't put rubbish or human waste in rivers or the sea.
- Don't leave waste on the beach.
- Don't buy products made from any endangered species, including tortoise-shell or coral - they could be illegal.
- Don't collect shells, corals, or other natural items.
- If you find yourself in a boat, make sure it doesn’t anchor on a reef.
- If you dive or snorkel, don't touch reefs or marine animals! Keep yourself and your scuba gear off coral reefs. And try to stay off the bottom: stirred-up sediment can settle on coral and smother it.
- If you go whale watching, or watching other marine mammals and birds, ensure the tour operator stays a respectable distance from the animals. And never touch!
- Take a look at EarthDive - a global project for millions of divers, snorkellers, and ordinary citizens to preserve the health and diversity of our oceans.
- Volunteer for a coral reef or beach cleanup for your holiday.
- Respect all local guidelines, recommendations, regulations for fishing.
- Don't use lead weights for angling as lead is a toxic metal.
- Take all rubbish home from the beach and countryside - many types of plastic litter are dangerous to wildlife and can take years to degrade.
- Also take home any discarded hooks, nets, lines, and weights as they are a potential threat to wildlife.
- Don't let your dog foul the beach. If there are no disposal bins ask the local council to provide some and take home any mess.
- Report anything unusual, such as pollution or animal strandings, to the local authorities or coastguard.