Yellow Flowers.

"Bruce promotes a 'leave no trace' camping ethic, in the process teaching the value of being a good steward of the land. His approach and style to guiding leave no doubt that you are in capable hands, while also stressing the importance of individual responsibility."

— Elizabeth Hertz, Maine, USA, client on Costa Rica multi-day family trip

Lunar Moth on a tree.

Are you an ecotourist?

By combining education with paddling, Seascape has won the affection of a group known as ecotourists. They are travelers who want to conserve the environment, improve local communities, and have a guide interpret the environments and cultures they encounter. Although many outfitters are only starting to integrate ecotourism into their approach, Seascape has always emphasized both "green" and "blue" aspects of tour operation.

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Sustainability

Responsible tourism practices

Even though it is a small, locally owned and operated company, Seascape is an industry leader in sustainable tourism, for which it has received international recognition. Through his work with Seascape, Bruce Smith has created awareness of environmental issues and helped to protect the lands and waters on which the company operates. As a result, Smith was awarded the New Brunswick Department of Environment’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 for environmental leadership. The company was selected in 2009 as one of three finalists for the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award, one of the National Awards for Tourism Excellence presented anually by the Globe and Mail. Seascape won the 2003 Gulf of Maine Council Visionary Award for marine education and sustainable tourism practices. The company is also a winner of the Savvy Traveler Award, is recognized as a Bay of Fundy Recommended Experience and was a 2005 Adventure Travel Trade Association Pioneer Award nominee.

Seascape follows these Sustainable Tourism Guidelines

Small group travel to minimize environmental impact on fragile coastal ecosystems and to allow for a more authentic and enriching personal connection to the biodiversity of the places visited.

Environmental approach to travel and waste management, including recycling, reusing and composting, purchasing items with limited packaging and using recycled paper in all promotional materials.

Assisting local conservation efforts and environmental education initiatives such as school groups participating in annual coastal cleanups, as well as partnering with numerous conservation organizations.

Sensitive wildlife observation practices that include keeping a respectful distance to minimize noise and stress and leaving habitats pristine by hauling out any items carried in, as well as any trash left by others.

Contact between visitors and native coastal people as a means of involving local communities in both the cultural and economic benefits of tourism, a critical component of ecotourism.

Advocating protection of marine as well as terrestrial ecosystems through an emphasis on interpretation of the natural and cultural history of the regions.

Purchasing locally grown food, certified organic products, and items such as coffee, tea and chocolate through fair trade wholesalers to ensure that money is returned to the local communities.

Environmental approach to energy consumption and natural resources through the use of products such as energy efficient light bulbs and biodegradable cleaning agents made with natural ingredients.

Coastal cleanup
Seascape prioritizes involving communities in environmental efforts, and offers free paddling for local school groups if they are willing to assist with coastal cleanup activities during the trip. In 1992, Seascape developed an annual event called Paddlefest, which includes instructional sessions, paddling, music, food and a large beach cleanup. The most recent event attracted more than 400 people.