What is Green Fins?

Stories from the Sea

Green Fins is an initiative which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs by driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. Based on a 15-point Code of Conduct, which provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for diving and snorkelling, it helps dive and snorkel operators measurably reduce their negative environmental impact.

Spearheaded by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment, Green Fins encourages and empowers members of the diving industry to act to reduce the pressures on coral reefs. It does this by offering dive and snorkel companies practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices both above and below the water – such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution. These recommendations are made to each individual member, based on a robust environmental assessment, and strategic training, support and resources are also provided to help operators in their sustainability journey. By reducing the local direct and indirect pressures tourism puts on coral reefs, it helps make corals healthier and more resilient to other stresses such as the effects of climate change. What’s more, by educating and empowering travel operators to use alternatives to unsustainable practices, we can develop a sustainable tourism industry and protect local marine habitats. Active members are listed on Green Fins’ website so tourists can pro-actively choose environmentally responsible options.

Why is this so important? Currently an estimated 1 million new divers are certified each year with millions more snorkelling worldwide on coral reefs. While well-managed tourism can present an economic opportunity, expansion of global coral reef tourism has resulted in growing concern about associated environmental impacts.

Coral reefs are threatened by several direct and indirect impacts caused by irresponsible snorkelling and diving practices; higher levels of coral disease and lower hard coral cover have been reported on intensively dived reefs. Since reefs are facing increasingly severe climate change impacts, reducing direct local threats is critical to make them more resilient.

Green Fins is currently active in the following 10 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Palau, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The initiative is launching in another new country very soon – watch this space!

While the reach of the Green Fins initiative continues to grow (with new countries being added all the time and a new country launching very soon – watch this space!), Reef-World is also working on supporting dive professionals who are not located in active Green Fins countries. That’s why the charity partnered with Professional Scuba Schools International (PSS) to develop the Dive Guide e-Course which was launched in April 2019.

Scuba professionals have the ability to positively influence diver behaviour and the new Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course is the only course which teaches dive professionals how to prevent diving-related damage to coral reefs by following the highest environmental standards, as set out by the Green Fins initiative. It covers techniques such as how to provide an effective pre-dive environmental briefing and how to stop customers (including underwater photographers) touching coral whilst diving; techniques proven to reduce the level of coral damage associated with diving. Dive guides can take this course – free of charge – whether or not their dive operator is a Green Fins member.

For more information about Green Fins – or to become a member – visit www.greenfins.net

The Reef-World Foundation leads the global implementation of the UN Environment’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. To keep up with our latest news and developments, please follow Reef-World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow the Green Fins initiative on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with new materials, updates and sustainability insights from Green Fins members.

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This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media