Fiordland Ecology Holidays
Where are they?
At the Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Site found in the southwestern corner of New Zealand. The Fiordland National Park is part of Te Wahipounamu which covers the south-west corner of New Zealand, with 4 National Parks, including the Fiordland National Park, and 10,000 square kilometers of adjacent State land, home to flora and fauna which are unique in the world. The majority of our trips start from the small village of Manapouri, transport is provided to cross the lake and through the Southern Alps to get into Doubtful Sound where the vessel the Breaksea Girl is based. Occasionally trips start from Bluff, the most southern mainland sea port in New Zealand, the nearest city being Invercargill.
 | | The Breaksea Girl |
Who are they, and what are they doing?
Fiordland Ecology Holidays is a small eco-tourism business owned and operated by Lance and Ruth Shaw. Breaksea Girl is their 20 metre steel motor sailer which is based in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand. What makes Fiordland Ecology Holidays different is their emphasis on nature, conservation and research trips which cover all of Fiordland and the subantarctic islands. Lance was employed by the New Zealand Dept of Conservation as Ship's Master on their research vessel for 12 years prior to starting Fiordland Ecology Holidays 8 years ago. He has worked with Jacques Cousteau, David Bellamy, National Geographic and many international and national film units and scientists. Ruth has had over 20 years experience with boats and is a commercial skipper, but now runs the business, so she sticks mostly to the shore. She is active in conservation and dedicates over 50% of her time to environmental issues.
Fiordland Ecology Holidays has the only vessel in the South Island which will not accept charters involved in any form of extraction from the environment. "We believe we are the only small business in New Zealand offsetting the cost of scientific research by selling spare berths on research trips to tourists. We personally carry any financial loss if these berths are not sold to allow the research to continue." Through a research fund they established 5 years ago, they have supported many environmental projects based in Fiordland, Stewart Island and the subantarctic. Over the last 4 years they have won a number of national tourism awards, mainly Service to the Environment. The following is a list of some research projects they have helped fund through tourism and the research fund:
 |
Locating and monitoring gecko populations on Stewart Island
Collecting underwater samples from the subantarctic
DNA work on Hooker sea-lions and southern right whales.
Albatross chick counts on the Auckland Islands
Monitoring weevil and skink populations in Fiordland
Monitoring forest regrowth
Diver impacts on coral reefs in Fiordland
Initial salt water marsh work for data base work
Predator eradication
Deep water species identification
Underwater research on many species only found in Fiordland
Botany work in Fiordland and the subantarctic
Data base work on native birds on the Fiordland coast
Black coral growth monitoring
Dolphin monitoring |
|
How are they doing this?
"Our entire business is based on sustainability, our passion for the protection of the environment and funding research in this remote area. We have a strong commitment to environmental education, not only through our ecology tours but also through the Environmental Information Centre we run in conjunction with our office. "Natural capital" is our foundation, this makes us think ecologically, ensuring constant re-evaluation of our ethics."
Travellers have the option of joining a scheduled trip which lasts between 3 and 7 days. Time ashore in the rainforest, interaction with wildlife and learning about our birds, the underwater world, the demise of our natural heritage and the steps we are taking to protect it are just part of each trip. Or you can join a research trip where you are not only helping financially, but also working alongside the scientists and being involved. Many of the research projects would not be possible without the support of tourism. Lastly, you can charter Breaksea Girl and her crew for your own use. But remember, minimum impact, zero extraction.
Who is this for?
"Anyone who wants to learn about our part of the world, the southern area of New Zealand."
|
|
