Sustainability Spotlight: Seward Ocean Excursions
Our Sustainability Spotlight series is aimed at broadening the conversation surrounding sustainable tourism for visitors and businesses by sharing the stories of our Adventure Green Alaska certified businesses. To learn more about Adventure Green Alaska certification please visit our about page.
About Seward Ocean Excursions
Seward Ocean Excursions was founded in 2016 by a local Seward family, Bixler and Krystin McClure. Bixler has strong family ties to Seward spanning multiple generations, and Krystin has roots in Fairbanks, Alaska. Bixler has an M.A. degree in Environmental Geography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His thesis was on the environmental and social impacts of SCUBA diving in several locations around Hawaii, and he worked as a researcher for several sustainable tourism groups through the University. Krystin has an M.S. in Ocean and Resources Engineering from University of Hawaii at Manoa, which focused on the sustainable use of the ocean’s resources. Their education and work experience fostered an interest in sustainable tourism.
Bixler and Krystin dreamed for years about sharing their beautiful neck of the woods (and ocean) with visitors, and in 2016 they decided to give it a go and started Seward Ocean Excursions. In 2016 Seward Ocean Excursions was just Bixler and Krystin and one boat. Over the course of several years, they expanded to three boats and a handful of other captains. Seward Ocean Excursions offers year-round small group (a maximum of 6 guests per boat) wildlife and sightseeing tours in Seward, Alaska.
How long has your business been implementing sustainable practices?
We have been implementing sustainable practices since the very beginning, even before purchasing our first boat. We wanted to share the small group experience on a very fuel-efficient boat. We conducted a lot of research, ran a lot of Excel spreadsheets, looked at a lot of boats, and talked to many boat builders before finally deciding on the boat that met our criteria. Since starting operations in 2016 all of our other practices have been in place (i.e. recycling, being open year-round, providing donations, conducting beach cleanups, etc.)
What advice do you have for businesses that are beginning their sustainable journey?
Brainstorm ideas on how you can lessen your impact from your operations. Never forget that it isn’t just the natural environment we are talking about. Be sure to keep in mind your impact on the social, cultural, and economic environments that you operate in as well.
What sustainable practice is your business most proud of?
While we are proud of everything we do, we are most proud of our positive impact on the community. From running free trips for local families, to involving the community in beach cleanups, to donating to countless local causes, Seward Ocean Excursions is a positive and impactful member of the local community. While all our other practices are important as well, we believe helping the community that we live and operate in has a great effect, especially being located in a small town.
Which pillar of the Adventure Green Alaska program aligns most with your business?
It is hard to pick one, but if we had to, we would say the environment. The environment (living and non-living) is why people come out on the water with us. They want to experience all the amazing aspects our beautiful waters and land have to offer. Besides having fun and enjoying the views, we share tons of information with our guests and hope to instill in them the inspiration to learn more about the natural world. Also, we hope to plant in them both the importance of sustainable practices in their future tours and travel, as well as in day-to-day life, to make sure future generations have the same opportunities that we do.
Collaboration with the Adventure Green Alaska program
Besides Adventure Green Alaska showcasing companies like ours and other responsible local operators of many different branches of Alaskan tourism, being a part of Adventure Green Alaska has helped us codify and grow our sustainable practices.
To learn more about Seward Ocean Excursions, visit their Green Business profile and their website.