Responsible Marine and Coastal Tourism Business Cluster Development
Full Solution
African penguin (© Phillips - Marine Dynamics)
Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) have joined forces to ensure that the people who contribute their land, coastal and marine resources, labor and knowledge to tourism are the ones who reap the benefits. Together with businesses, civil society and local government on the Cape Whale Coast (South Africa), the DICT creates awareness about protecting the marine environment to travelers visiting the coast’s little towns of Hermanus, Stanford, Gansbaai and Kleinmond
Last update: 30 Sep 2020
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Context
Challenges addressed
Development pressure on key species and fragile coastal habitats:
- Shark poaching (for fins and jaws)
- Residential development on shoreline
- Nuclear site development likely to increase rise in water temperature altering behavior of sharks and other species
Lack of sustainable livelihoods and environmental awareness amongst local population
Location
Cape Whale Coast, South Africa
East and South Africa
Process
Summary of the process
Within the destination of the Cape Whale Coast, Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) has been working with a number of different businesses over the past 10 years. So far seven of them have been certified: Grootbos Private Game Reserve, Farm 215, Whalesong Lodge, Dyer Island Cruises, Marine Dynamics, White Shark Projects and Southern Right Charters. Dating back to the late 1990s these businesses and their partners from public authorities and civil society have organically grown a network of initiatives and organizations that have provided an exceptional example for responsible tourism development in a coastal and marine destination. While the leadership for sustainable tourism development that these business owners have demonstrated over the past years was independent and originally unrelated to FTT certification, the building blocks of FTT’s services help to structure and reinforce the outputs and outcomes of these good practices along the set of criteria in its quality management system. FTT promotes good practice examples as solutions for responsible tourism development in coastal destinations elsewhere. It provides the tools for applying and replicating the lessons learned to other destinations in the southern African Region.
Building Blocks
Certification, Business and Market Development Support
Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) operates the world’s first and still only Fair Trade Tourism certification program. The program was developed 10 years ago and became the first tourism certification program in Africa to be recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council in December 2011.Tourism businesses that adhere to the FTT standard use the FTT label as a way of signifying their commitment to fair and responsible tourism. The process of moving internal and external business procedures toward certification serves as management tool to improve businesses practices and makes them both more successful and more responsible. For its clients FTT offers free on demand Business Development Services (BDS) through its BDS Manager, along with free workshops and training, free online resources and toolkits. Once on our system, our Sales and Marketing Team actively links our clients to markets and advises them on how to use the brand association with FTT as a competitive benefit that signifies a commitment to fair and responsible tourism. FTT provides platforms to promote FTT-certified businesses. Tour operators commit to provide preferential exposure to FTT-certified businesses, or to promote Fair Trade holidays.
Enabling factors
For a tourism product to be FTT-certified:
• It must show clear potential to basic internal capacity to be assessed against the tourism product compliance criteria, which are derived from the Tourism Product Certification Standard
The compliance criteria for tourism products fall under the following categories and Business Development is provided by FTT for each individual business, to enable it to meet 200 sustainability criteria under the following 4 main pillars:
• Business practice, HR
• Community resources
• Cultural heritage
• Environmental practice
Lesson learned
Surveys amongst travellers have shown that the environmental, social and cultural impacts of tourism businesses are a particular concern to visitors; thus Fair Trade Tourism has strengthened the criteria in the certification relating to interlinkages between environmental and social aspects in particular. Lessons learned by tourism businesses have revealed that Fair Trade Tourism certification not only assures to travelers that their holiday benefits local communities and economies, and that the business is operated ethically and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner, but they will also be able to offer a more fulfilling holiday experience.
Public-private collaboration for conservation
businesses. Together with the tourism partner companies, DICT conducts research, conservation and education in the marine environment of the Gansbaai district in the Western Cape. The commercial companies provide logistical and onsite support for biologists and the Trust to operate, while political support is provided by the Municipality and Cape Nature DICT projects are focused on the Marine Big 5 – African penguin, great white shark, Southern right whale, Cape fur seal, dolphins - surrounding Dyer Island. Dyer Island is a breeding colony for the endangered African penguin and an Important Bird Area. The successful collaboration in this public-private partnership has grown organically and is unique to the context and stakeholder landscape in this particular destination. However, there is clear scope for replicating this model, by identifying the key touristic value provided by a given ecosystem based attraction, creating broad awareness around it amongst all relevant parties in a destination and then build a commercially and environmentally successful strategy and multi-stakeholder governance body around it.
Enabling factors
o Success of commercial businesses by constantly reinvesting profits into the companies: Monitoring research to enable conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems, which are the main asset of the business model on the Cape Whale Coast. Similarly, investing in bigger boats and other physical capital would be redundant if the natural capital assets were to erode further.
o Partnerships with other businesses in the destination, tour operators, other non-tourism businesses; local government, non-profits such as Fair Trade Tourism and the general public
Lesson learned
While the Trust has been instrumental in raising the profile of this incredible marine area, none of the conservation, research and education work would have been possible without successful commercial businesses. For example, the daily data capturing and observations of marine animals and seabirds have been instrumental in conclusions with regards to their behavior – and have led to important scientific publications. Funds toward the Trust are also raised by the companies, ensuring its financial stability. The Trust aims to protect the marine heritage and was able to submit a letter of concern regarding the proposed nuclear power plant at Bantamsklip, just over 22 km from their office in 2010. Based on the wealth of its own research findings and local knowledge it was possible to point out critical flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessment. As a result, the University of Pretoria will in future be consulted regarding the species of this area and any possible monitoring programs.
Conservation of key flagship species
DICT installs shelters that mimic the natural burrows of the penguin, essentially creating homes for the breeding pairs and improving the chances of fledgling survival success. They have created a fibreglass/mesh resin nest that is lightweight yet durable and is made by the local community. DICT continuously records streams of seabirds, especially penguins that are found injured, oiled or sick on Dyer Island and the adjacent coastline. All vagrant and visiting seabirds are logged and GPS positions supplied for scientific research. DICT has built the first rehabilitation centre in the area: The African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary, to assist in the conservation of all seabirds. Together with Marine Dynamics, DICT has funded a custom designed research vessel and developed a project where they acoustically track great white sharks in the area to better understand their behavior in relation to environmental parameters. Also a database of fin ID photographs from 2007 to 2012 taken off Marine Dynamics shark cage diving vessel helped in the first regional population study (showing lower numbers than previously assumed). The ultimate goal is protection of the Great White shark species and a growth in numbers for the African penguin.
Enabling factors
o Leadership, vision and determination by the founder and owner of Dyer Island Cruises, Wilfred Chivell, to conserve the local marine biodiversity through tourism
o Success of commercial businesses: revenue generated by tourism provide the financial means to reinvest in the protection of the Marine Big 5 – the key asset and natural capital along the Cape Whale Coast
o Regular collection and monitoring data by DICT and its partners, without which no measurable conservation efforts could be done
Lesson learned
To date over 2000 nests have been placed on Dyer Island and other breeding colonies and due to its success forms part of the Biodiversity management Plan for the African Penguin. DICT has also established itself as a capable institutional setup to successfully help stranded whales/dolphins/seals and assists wherever they can. As a result of adequate tracking data of the Great White Shark over a reasonable time period and better understanding of the sharks’ usage of Gansbaai's shallows as well as a crucial population study, the DICT can more effectively protect the white shark and its key foraging areas whilst informing and protecting beach users. Interactions between other marine life and great white sharks can be determined and communicated to scientists in various fields which present the unique opportunity to network and asses the white sharks role within the entire ecosystem. Knowing how few sharks there are means the DICT can effectively change government conservation policy.
Resources
Fishing Line Recovery Program and Blue Flag
DICT in association with the Overstrand Municipality established the Fishing Line Recovery Program along the Gansbaai shoreline. By increasing public awareness about the negative impacts that fishing line debris has on marine life, water quality, and human welfare, we reduce the amount of fishing line entering and remaining in the sea, and increase recycling of fishing line. A network of fishing line recycling bins has been placed at local beaches and popular fishing spots. This project has become an icon for marine litter and the Trust is part of a Technical and Advisory Committee addressing marine pollution. The vision is to see this project grow along the South African Coastline. In October 2011, part of this vision was realized when together with WESSA (Wildlife and environment Society of South Africa) and the Blue Flag Beach Program, the bins were being placed adjacent to all Blue Flag beaches. Blue Flag is one of the most well-known international voluntary eco-labels for beaches, marinas and boats. In 2013, for the first time, marine protected areas (MPAs) were included in the International Blue Flag Criteria. Whale Whisperer, a whale watching boat has Blue Flag status and was the pilot Blue Flag boat in South Africa.
Enabling factors
o Successful commercial business
o Support of clients, local government and the Blue Flag program
Lesson learned
The Trust has greatly benefited from its approach to involving, then working closely with the Overstrand Municipality and gaining their support. This was one of the foundations to receiving further financial support through a donation from the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association and DPI Plastics, arranged by John Kieser of Plastics SA. The material was enough to make 100 bins – 54 dedicated to the Blue Flag program. The low cost of only R350 per bin, provides an easy way for any individual willing to support this project, which has added a crucial element in enabling its growth and the development of marine pollution educational materials.
Local authorities around the world report a number of spin-offs from being awarded Blue Flag status, including an increase in visitors, improved behaviour on the part of beach-goers, property prices rising for homes near Blue Flag beaches – and visitors enjoying a well cared-for and managed beach.
Ecosystem Restoration and environmental education
Grootbos is situated in the endemic coastal Fynbos shrubland directly adjacent to the marine ecosystem surrounding Dyer Island and compliments the marine biosphere both from an ecosystem and touristically attractive landscape perspective.Since 1991, Grootbos has grown from a 123-hectare farm to now include seven farms totaling 2500 hectares of land under conservation. Much of this land had previously been poorly managed as cattle and flower harvesting farms to the detriment of the region’s biodiversity and provided few livelihood opportunities. Grootbos staff has cleared all alien vegetation from the property, restored damaged areas and now manages the land according to strict ecological principles. The Grootbos Foundation engages directly in rehabilitation and protection of flora and fauna on Grootbos and in the Walker Bay region. It provides education to 8-12 students per year by an adult education college , including on horticulture, conservation, ecotourism and life skills. All 100 students that have completed the course over the past 11 years have subsequently found employment. This is a key instrument for involving the local community and gaining its support to the overall objectives of linking tourism to conservation.
Enabling factors
• Promotion of, training on environmental awareness and sustainable development was crucial for gaining community support for linking tourism and conservation
o Training for unemployed persons: livelihoods opportunities directly linked to incentives for nature conservation Research on conservation and rehabilitation of environment is instrumental to safeguarding the natural capital of the tourism destination, gaining donor support
o In-house nursery and landscaping business model to generate income for the Foundation ; use of donations to pursue above activities
Lesson learned
From an early stage in the development of Grootbos, it became clear that effective conservation of the region’s biodiversity requires a look beyond our borders and developing partnerships with our neighbours. So in 1999 Grootbos became one of the first members of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. This role model public-private conservation partnership has brought together 22 landowners collectively owning 12,179 hectares of coastal and mountain fynbos, which is being jointly managed for conservation. In partnership with other conservancy members, conservation, fire reaction, alien clearing and tourism management plans have been developed. These will ensure continuity in the management, the creation of new tourism attractions and increased access to natural resources and local employment opportunities. The tourism development and associated non-profit programs of the foundation now employ in excess of 150 full time staff, some 80% of whom are from local disadvantaged communities.
Impacts
Together, the Fair Trade Tourism certified businesses in Cape Whale Coast area employ many men and women in decent jobs, while having a positive impact on their host communities, their culture, livelihoods and economic development. Through the provision of tangible economic benefits derived from tourism, a significant part of the Fynbos coastal flora is conserved. Income generated through tourism and donations paid by tourists finances the protection of one of the last habitats of the endangered African Penguin. Tourism income also provides the means for researching a marine ecosystem, which is highly frequented by several species of sharks, whales and seabirds. Fair Trade Tourism and Blue Flag certification ensure that the whale and shark watching vessels are operated according to international standards that seek to minimize harm done to marine biodiversity and the marine ecosystem in which they operate. The companies' whole ethos is based on conservation and protection of the environment and the believe that “Your Choice Makes a Difference”, encouraging tourists to choose wisely.
Beneficiaries
Workers, suppliers and the families of certified businesses as well as local communities.
Story
Today’s achievements of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT) would have been impossible without Wilfred Chivell, the visionary behind the successful companies Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics. When South Africa’s financial crisis of 1998 destroyed the five concrete companies that Wilfred owned at the time, he not only decided to turn his passion for Marine Life into a profession, but also to reinvest as much as his new company would allow him to in into conservation. He started a whale watching company in 1999 called Dyer Island Cruises with just a rubber dinghy. He then purchased a shark cage diving company in 2005 called Marine Dynamics and has since changed much in an industry that could be used purely for financial gain. Finally, Wilfred’s concern for nature and especially that of the fast declining African penguin saw him founding the DICT in 2006. He created the ‘Faces of Need’ housing project for this flightless and vulnerable bird and initiated two penguin conferences, in order to push for the African Penguin to be listed as endangered and mobilize funding for its protection. Soon after, he also made sure both his businesses qualified for Fair Trade certification. Wilfred is changing the way the shark cage diving industry is viewed and enjoys support of other conservation organisations. He has structured a business model that not only creates employment but also benefits the environment and is aimed at protecting the marine heritage. Every day funds are raised from clients visiting the companies and this supports the work of the Trust. Wilfred’s companies support the Trust in various ways, ultimately contributing a R1million towards research and conservation - three marine biologists have been supported in completing their Master’s degrees. Marine Dynamics also started an international marine volunteer program where participants can learn even more about the great white shark and other species through a series of dedicated lectures. These students become ambassadors for great white sharks when they leave and the more people changing the perception of this misunderstood predator the better its chances of future survival. Together with his partner, Michael Lutzeyer, owner of Grootbos and founder of the Grootbos Foundation, DICT and the Grootbos Foundation stand at the forefront of research and conservation of marine biodiversity and the coastal ecosystem of the Fynbos along the Cape Whale Coast.
Connect with contributors
Other contributors
Wilfred Chivell
Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Brenda du Toit
Dyer Island Conservation Trust
Manuel Bollmann
Fair Trade Tourism
