Protecting Coral Reefs Through A Sustainable Marine Tourism Industry

摘要

With around one million new scuba divers being certified each year and millions more snorkeling worldwide on coral reefs, the marine tourism industry is booming. The huge number of people visiting coral reefs presents both threats and opportunities. By making simple changes to become more sustainable; the marine tourism industry is playing its part in protecting these fragile ecosystems. David McCann, Scuba Junkie Mabul, explains why this is so important: "Conservation of the local environment, both above and below the waves, has been at the heart of Scuba Junkie's ethos right from our inception in Semporna in 2004. We believe that, as divers and snorkel-ers, we are fortunate to experience the joy and beauty of the underwater world, and with this comes a duty to protect and conserve. As a dive operator, this is not just a moral obligation, but also a sound business decision. From a moral perspective: we love diving, so we should do what we can to protect the reefs, and be sensitive to the needs of the local communities whose livelihoods and sustenance comes from the reefs on which our operations are based - for both now, and for the generations in the future. From a business perspective: we want our operations to continue to exist, so we need to take care of the reefs. Healthy reef means healthy business."