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Environmentally Friendly

Environmental Credentials

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is a innovating reef tourism company operating to Green Island within the Cairns section of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park.

We recognize environmental management as one of our highest corporate responsibilities and are committed to being environmentally responsible, promoting environmental best practices and maximising sustainability.

Experience Co acknowledges the continuing Sea Country management and custodians of the Great Barrier Reef by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners, whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect the Reef for future generations. 

Advanced Eco-tourism

Green Travel Leader

Climate Action Business

Citizens of The GBR

Our Company

Operating in the Great Barrier Reef for over 28 years

As a leading reef tourism operator operating within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Marine Park, Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises recognizes environmental management as one of our highest corporate responsibilities and are committed to being environmentally responsible, promoting environmental best practices and maximizing sustainability.

This advanced certification mandates the implementation of systems and procedures that ensure “best practice” standards within the operation. Our company strives to continually improve upon these standards with a constant stream of improvement suggestions from staff and management under investigation and implementation.

Tackling Climate Change

At Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises we believe each person around the world can reduce their total emissions each year. There are hundreds of different ways we can do this by introducing environmental practices into our everyday life such as using energy saving appliances, low energy bulbs, reduction of waste and litter and the use of environmentally friendly detergents.

When travelling on our eco cruise we encourage our guests to ensure these practices are maintained, even whilst away from home, and to choose to support tour operators who have achieved the Ecotourism and Climate Action certification logo.

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises carries an Advanced Eco Accreditation –  the highest level of accreditation awarded by Ecotourism Australia. We also carry a Climate Action Business Certification. These certifications distinguish us as one of Australia’s leading and most innovative ecotourism products.

At Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises, all of our Eco cruise & activities are carried out following industry best standards/guidelines and your patronage helps support important conservation initiatives aimed directly at the protection of Australia’s natural heritage. With over 2,500 individual reefs, over 900 islands, and over 1500 species of fish, the GBR is one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on earth, and extremely significant for biodiversity conservation. 

As the Cairns and Port Douglas area are one of the most highly visited regions of the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority have implemented zoning and area management to help manage human activities and minimize wildlife and habitat disturbance. When the GBR received world heritage status in 1981, it was the first coral reef ecosystem in the world to have this distinction.

Experience Co’s GBR Biology team tailor reef education programs which specialize in connecting local students to their local reef systems via a series of curriculum-based projects and research opportunities.  By involving schools and communities in education about the current threats facing the reef, it encourages stewardship and understanding, which can harness increased political and community action and support for the reef’s long-term protection. GBR Biology invest heavily in coral reef monitoring and research, to read more about the work Eric Fisher and his team are doing at GBR Biology. 

Experience Co Initiatives

Experience Co is committed to establishing an emissions baseline to assess our impact and make meaningful changes to improve. Guests visiting the region are encouraged to make sustainable choices by bringing bottled water, using recycling bins, using reef friendly sunscreen, and implementing public transport wherever possible. 

Current initiatives Experience Co is undertaking include the following:

  • Outsourcing catering to local restaurants who source their products locally, and offer eco friendly packaging. 
  • Using recycled paper in every office, and avoiding printing when possible, with all brochures printed on recycled paper. 
  • All vessels and offices are cleaned with certified eco-friendly products to avoid toxic chemicals
  • All vessels have water refill stations and refillable water bottles sold on board. 
  • Recycling facilities are in use on all our operations.

Experience Co Vision

Minimise adverse impacts on the environment:

  • Experience Co conducts all operations with a view to prevent, reduce or mitigate harmful effects on natural resources, to meet the requirement of all relevant environmental regulations and best practice codes.

Promote environmental stewardship:

  • The requirement of reef interpretation, which raises awareness of the pressures affecting the reef, is a key strategy to promote a sense of reef stewardship among visitors.

Reduce carbon emissions:

  • Climate change is one of the greatest threats to marine biodiversity. Implementing strategies to reduce emissions and promoting sustainable practices are changes we can make to help fight climate change.

Acknowledgement of Country

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises is owned by Experience Co Limited (EXP), an Australian owned company specialising in adventure and leisure tourism.  Experience Co provides experiences across Australia and New Zealand.

Big Cat Green Island Reef Cruises acknowledges the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji , Mandingalbay Yidinji, Yirrganydji & Gunggandji people, Traditional Owners of the Sea Country on which our business operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.