Polperro Dolphin Swims

Sustainability Commitment

Polperro is committed to the protection of Port Phillip Bay’s marine environment and its iconic species for their own intrinsic values and for future generations. Being an industry pioneer necessarily entailed Polperro’s involvement in an array of working groups and committees ranging from the formulation of an industry code of conduct for an emerging tourism sector, to the establishment of activity standards, through to defining the very nature of what it means to be an ‘ecotourism’ provider. Polperro endeavours to make our trips not only environmentally informative, but also environmentally supportive. To do this it is essential that our operating practices are consistent with the environmental messages we are delivering. That is, we are seen to 'walk the walk' and not just 'talk the talk.' Interpretation highlights the sustainability measures Polperro has adopted to minimise our impact on the marine environment and the dolphins and seals which are the focus of the tours. We attempt to show how human activities have ramifications for the Bay's ecosystem and the wider marine environment and also suggest alternative behaviours that mitigate these impacts. Polperro’s education initiative, ‘Canopy of Care’, also supports our aim making our services environmentally supportive. Students are able to contribute to the science that will help inform government decision making and also learn how they can make a difference through direct action to conserving Australia’s natural environment. Detailed classroom resources have been created about key environmental issues such as plastics in our oceans and waterways; the impacts of climate change to the coastal environment; the effects of changing land use on the coastal environment; tourism impacts and the management of our coastal environs. Crew have worked with management to be able to deliver interpretation that supports the free, curriculum-matched learning material. Staff learning will continue as ‘Canopy of Care’ extends its’ schools’ engagement and creates more resources to link-in with desired learning outcomes.