South Pacific Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines
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The Pacific Islands region spans around 32 million km², encompassing the world's largest continuous marine ecosystem. Its waters support an extraordinary diversity of marine wildlife, from whales and dolphins to dugongs, sea turtles, sharks, rays and seabirds.
Marine and coastal tourism is central to many Pacific economies, accounting for at least half of global tourism activity and providing employment, income and foreign exchange across numerous Small Island Developing States. For many visitors, opportunities to observe or swim alongside marine wildlife are among the region's most memorable experiences.
These species, however, face increasing pressure from a combination of threats including fisheries, pollution, climate change, habitat degradation and invasive species. Poorly managed wildlife tourism can add further stress, affecting animal behaviour and long-term survival while ultimately undermining the visitor experiences and livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
Recognising this, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) published the Responsible Marine Wildlife Viewing Guidelines in 2024 as part of the Pacific BioScapes Programme.
The guidelines support implementation of both the Pacific Islands Regional Marine Species Programme 2022–2026 and the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework 2030.
Designed for visitors, tourism operators and regulators alike, the guidance brings together practical, science-based recommendations to help people enjoy exceptional wildlife encounters while safeguarding marine species, protecting habitats and supporting the communities that depend on them.
At Free Range Ocean, we work to connect sailors, researchers, conservation organisations and coastal communities through citizen science. These guidelines provide a valuable common framework for everyone spending time on the water, helping ensure that wildlife encounters are not only memorable but also responsible. We hope they'll become a useful resource for cruisers, expedition operators, educators and community groups across the Pacific, supporting a growing culture of ocean stewardship wherever people meet the sea.
Read the guidelines:
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