Sustainability

Sustainability at Out to Sea

Out to Sea Expedition Company operates on the belief that we can have fun and explore our world while also being good stewards of our environment and our community. We strive to be economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. Beyond just avoiding negative impacts, we actively seek a regenerative approach that uses tourism as a force for good.

Trash bags on a beach in front of a Zodiac boat

Stewardship Projects

Two people holding a section of fishing net on a beach

Marine Debris

As a part of our participation in Whale SENSE, we conduct an annual stewardship project within our community. Our focus since 2021 has been on removing marine debris from our beaches and waters.

The most common items collected are small plastics like bottles, containers, and food wrappers, but we also try to remove items like lines and fishing nets whenever possible as they can be an entanglement hazard to marine wildlife. In addition to at least one beach cleanup each summer, we also collect marine debris while on tour. If you see your naturalist remove items from the ocean during your trip, just know that we are working to keep the sea free of debris!

Learn more about marine debris

Woman pulls a research crab put from the ocean — Monitoring for European green crab using a folding trap

Invasive European Green Crab Monitoring

In 2024, we began monitoring for invasive European Green Crab as a part of our effort to incorporate citizen science into our annual stewardship project.

European Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) first arrived on the west coast in San Francisco in 1989 and have since made their way north, supported by warming ocean temperatures. European green crab are detrimental to ecosystems because they destroy important habitat, eat a variety of bivalves and even other crabs, and compete with native crab species like Dungeness which has both ecological and economic importance. In July 2022, biologists with Metlakatla Indian Community on nearby Annette Island found the first evidence of European green crab in Alaska. By June 2024, it was announced that green crab shells were found on Gravina Island for the first time, and they have continued to expand north as far as Etolin Island as of late 2025. Since the initial discovery, intensive trapping efforts on Annette Island have removed thousands of green crabs, but unfortunately, there is no way to fully eradicate them at this time.

Monitoring for European green crab can aid in detection of the invasive species, while also providing scientists with base level measurements of existing species. We began permitted monitoring on a small scale during the 2024 season, and have since increased our monitoring efforts and incorporated this citizen science project into more of our trips!

Learn more about invasive European Green Crab

Memberships & Certifications

1% for the Planet

1% for the Planet was founded in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia) and Craig Matthews (founder of Blue Ribbon Flies) with the mission to bring dollars and doers together to accelerate smart environmental giving. As members of 1% for the Planet, we donate to Audubon Alaska, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), and the Alaska Marine Community Coalition.

Adventure Green Alaska

Adventure Green Alaska (AGA) is a voluntary certification program of the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) for sustainable tourism businesses operating in Alaska that meet standards of economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

Whale SENSE

Whale SENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching & wildlife viewing companies in the US Atlantic and Alaska Regions. The program is sponsored by NOAA Fisheries and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Developed in collaboration with the whale watching industry, Whale SENSE recognizes whale watching companies committed to responsible practices.

KVB member since 2019

ATIA member since 2019

Ketchikan Chamber member since 2019

Sustainability Policy

-We will be wise in our use of natural resources. We will avoid unnecessary waste and be mindful of ways we can reduce our consumption or reuse/repurpose materials. We will source from fair trade and environmentally conscious companies when available.
-We will minimize our contribution to climate change by operating vessels to optimize fuel efficiency and limiting our greenhouse gas emissions.
-We will partner with community and industry organizations.
-We will support the efforts of local non-profits through volunteer work, monetary, and in-kind donations.
-We will give preference to benefiting the local economy in our hiring and purchasing decisions.
-We will respect and learn from the original stewards of the land and sea on which we operate, the Taant’a Kwáan and Saanya Kwáan Tlingit, as well as the Tsimshian and Haida.
-We will operate our tours in a manner that is respectful and minimizes disturbance to wildlife and the local environment. We will set realistic wildlife expectations through communication and marketing. We will not participate in wildlife guarantees or activities that alter the behavior of wild animals for the entertainment of visitors.
-We will provide accurate and factual information about the ecosystem, cultures, and histories of the areas we operate in from a local perspective. We will use our tours to educate about issues affecting our environment and inspire action and conservation.
-We will participate in citizen science, remove marine debris from the ocean and beaches, and use our business to further ocean stewardship.
-We will financially support the environmental, social, and sustainability efforts of others by contributing a minimum of 1% of gross sales to organizations working in our region.