Historical Progression of Sustainable Management Concerning Marine Tourism Activities: A Case Study in Eastern Australia

This paper explores through a case study on a broader and more specific basis, the historic and more recent development of sustainable management and natural resource practices of a prominent coastal tourism region in Australia, and a representative example of an accredited marine ecotourism operator within that region who has been applying policies and management practices in sustainable marine wildlife tourism. The paper includes the growth and development of marine wildlife tourism with an emphasis on the region as well as further development of marine wildlife-based sustainable management practices. This also involves a detailed discussion of the practices aboard the enterprise Imagine Cruises, and the visitor experience in attempting to provide best environmental practices and in turn offer positive wildlife and environmental management tactics in contributing in the short term to the sustainability of the dolphin and whale watch industry which operates within the bay and the coastal and marine areas of Port Stephens. The historical development of marine-based and land-based sustainable management policies and practices in Port Stephens are examined in the paper, in a region which has rapidly become a major tourism destination based on abundance of cetacean wildlife, natural attributes and proximity to Sydney, Australia. Through the case review of the historical development of the Port Stephens environment, wildlife conservation and the focus on preservation of the rich natural resources of the region coupled with the advancement and implementation of sustainable policies and practices in nature-based wildlife tourism and especially the cetacean tourism industry, these can be conveyed as factors of importance in the further development of sustainable marine wildlife practices regionally, nationally and potentially influencing decision making on an international level.