OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

At Imagine Cruises, protecting the marine environment is central to what we do. Since Imagine was launched in Port Stephens in 1995, we have aimed to provide memorable marine experiences that encourage a greater understanding and appreciation of our oceans and the wildlife that depends on them.

Operating in the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park gives us both an opportunity and a responsibility to help protect the environment we are privileged to work in every day.

Our approach to sustainability includes responsible wildlife viewing, supporting marine conservation and research, educating our guests about the marine environment, reducing the environmental impact of our operations wherever possible, and continually looking for ways to improve.

“Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas in a way that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.”

Eco-conscious travellers are seeking authentic, educational and environmentally responsible experiences. They are increasingly looking for tourism operators that minimise environmental impact, support conservation, respect local communities and help visitors make informed and sustainable choices.

Imagine Cruises is proud to be an Advanced Ecotourism Certified operator with Ecotourism Australia. We have maintained ECO Certification since 2001 and were recognised in Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2020 for our long-standing commitment to ecotourism.

This recognition reflects more than two decades of commitment to environmentally responsible marine tourism, conservation, visitor education, cultural respect, responsible wildlife viewing and continuous improvement.

The marine environment is at the heart of Imagine Cruises. Operating in and around the Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park, we are privileged to encounter an incredible variety of marine life, including dolphins, whales, seals, seabirds and many other species.

We are committed to responsible wildlife viewing and to operating in a way that minimises disturbance to the animals we encounter. Our cruises are conducted in accordance with relevant marine park and wildlife regulations, with the welfare of wildlife always taking priority over the experience of viewing it.

An important part of every cruise is education. Through onboard commentary and interaction with our crew, we aim to help our guests better understand the wildlife they are seeing, the marine environment these animals depend upon and the importance of protecting it for the future.

We believe that a memorable encounter with wildlife can inspire a greater appreciation of our oceans and encourage people to make more environmentally responsible choices long after their cruise has ended.

Our commitment to the marine environment extends beyond our day-to-day operations. Imagine Cruises actively supports marine conservation, research and education within Port Stephens and the wider marine environment.

For every passenger who joins us on a Dolphin Watch or Marine Discovery cruise, Imagine Cruises contributes $1 to the Marine Parks Association. Through this ongoing contribution, our guests are also directly helping to support the protection and conservation of our marine environment.

We are proud to support EcoNetwork Port Stephens and other initiatives that promote the protection, understanding and sustainable use of our local environment.

Over the years, Imagine Cruises has supported researchers studying our local marine environment and wildlife. This has included providing complimentary cruises and access to our vessel for researchers, helping them undertake observations and research in the waters in which we operate.

Our regular time on the water also gives us the opportunity to contribute observations and information about the marine wildlife we encounter.

Imagine Cruises participates in the Port Stephens Dolphin Census, helping contribute to our understanding of the local Bottlenose Dolphin population.

Port Stephens is home to a resident population of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, making the ongoing monitoring and understanding of these animals particularly important. Initiatives such as the Dolphin Census help build knowledge about the local population while also encouraging the community to become involved in the conservation of these remarkable animals.

For us, conservation, research and education are an important part of responsible ecotourism. By supporting research and sharing what we learn with our passengers, we hope to contribute to the long-term protection of the marine environment and the wildlife that calls it home.

We recognise that operating a commercial vessel has an environmental impact, and we continually look for practical ways to reduce that impact.

Where conditions allow, we utilise Imagine’s sails as part of our cruising experience, reducing our reliance on engines. We also work to minimise waste, reduce unnecessary single-use items and make environmentally responsible choices throughout our vessel and office operations.

Our private charter policies prohibit balloons, confetti and glitter onboard, helping prevent these materials from entering the marine environment.

We continue to review our operations and look for achievable ways to reduce our use of resources, improve efficiency and minimise our environmental footprint.

Climate change is one of the significant long-term challenges facing our oceans and marine wildlife.

Changes in ocean temperatures, currents and other environmental conditions can affect marine ecosystems and the distribution and availability of important food sources. For whales, changes to feeding grounds and prey such as krill can have impacts far beyond the areas where we see them during their annual migration.

The Humpback Whales we encounter off Port Stephens undertake an extraordinary annual migration between their breeding grounds in warmer waters and their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Protecting these animals therefore also means recognising the importance of healthy marine ecosystems throughout their migratory range.

At Imagine Cruises, we believe education is an important part of conservation. By sharing information about whales, dolphins and the marine environment with our guests, we hope to encourage a greater understanding of the challenges facing our oceans and the role we can all play in protecting them.

LEARN MORE

For further information about the potential impacts of climate change on whales, dolphins and their feeding grounds, read the WWF report Whales in Hot Water? – The Impact of a Changing Climate on Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises.

Protecting our marine environment is something we can all contribute to. We encourage our guests to travel lightly and make simple choices that help reduce their impact on the places they visit.

When travelling with us, you can help by:

• Bringing a reusable water bottle and reducing your use of single-use plastics.
• Taking only photographs and memories with you and leaving the natural environment as you found it.
• Keeping rubbish secure and disposing of it responsibly so that it cannot enter our waterways and ocean.
• Respecting wildlife and allowing animals to behave naturally without disturbance.
• Following the guidance of our crew when viewing whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife.
• Respecting the Marine Park and the natural areas you visit during your time in Port Stephens.
• Supporting local businesses and choosing environmentally responsible tourism experiences where possible.
• Considering lower-emission transport options, public transport or car sharing when travelling to and around Port Stephens.

Small actions can make a difference. By travelling responsibly, we can all help protect our oceans and marine wildlife for future generations.

Choose Reef-Friendly Sunscreen

When swimming or snorkelling, we encourage guests to choose reef-friendly sunscreen and, where possible, products that are free from ingredients known to be harmful to marine ecosystems, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate. Wearing a rash shirt or other sun-protective clothing can also help reduce the amount of sunscreen entering the water.

Small choices can make a difference in helping to protect the marine habitats and wildlife we are privileged to visit.

Learn more: Save the Reef – Reef Safe Sunscreen Guide

Reduce and Offset Your Travel Emissions

When planning your visit, consider ways to reduce your travel emissions, such as using public transport, car sharing or choosing lower-emission transport options where practical.

Some emissions from travel can be difficult to avoid. If you would like to take further action, you can choose to offset your remaining travel emissions by purchasing verified carbon offsets. When choosing an offset, look for credible, independently verified projects and find out how the emissions reductions are measured and verified.

Learn more: Clean Energy Regulator – Voluntary Offsetting and Surrender

The Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator explains that voluntary offsetting can be undertaken by individuals as well as businesses, and explains how carbon credits are cancelled to offset emissions.

Protecting our oceans and wildlife isn’t just about what we do on the water. The choices we all make when travelling, shopping and enjoying the marine environment can make a difference.

Choose wildlife-friendly souvenirs
Please don’t purchase souvenirs or products made from rare, threatened or endangered wildlife. This can include products made from coral, shells, fur, ivory, turtle shell or other wildlife products. When travelling, choose souvenirs that support local communities without harming wildlife or the environment.

Think about what you buy
Marine ecosystems are interconnected. Krill, for example, may be tiny, but they are an extremely important food source for whales, penguins and many other Southern Ocean species. We encourage our guests to think about where products come from and choose sustainably and responsibly sourced alternatives wherever possible.

Refill, don’t landfill
Bring a refillable water bottle and help reduce single-use plastics. Small changes made by thousands of visitors can make a big difference to our oceans.

Choose reef-friendly sunscreen
When swimming and snorkelling, consider choosing sunscreen that is kinder to marine environments and always follow Australia’s sun protection recommendations.

Respect wildlife – watch, don’t interfere
Enjoy marine wildlife responsibly. Give animals space, don’t feed or touch wildlife, and leave shells, plants, rocks and other natural objects where you find them.

Take what you learn home with you

Our hope is that your experience with Imagine Cruises inspires you to help protect our oceans long after your cruise has finished. Whether you’re here in Port Stephens or travelling somewhere else in the world – choose responsibly, respect wildlife and leave only footprints.