Behaviour for a sustainable development
The present craze manifested for the ecotourism and the tourism for adventure increases the crowds of tourists at places acknowledged for their natural attration like the Sainte Marie island. Sainte Marie is an authentic and preserved destination. We want to assure that it will last. Practices of discovery respectful of the natural and social environment and its resources will contribute to ensure its durability.
Our group commits itself to:
- Offer our guests good and quality services
- Respect the natural environment and the local population
- Contribute in the biodiversity preservation, in the environmental protection, and in a sustainable development of the local economy and the protection of the cultural heritage of Sainte Marie
- Satisfy the guests knowledge about Sainte Marie, by observing and translating.
With our guests, we make our best to:
- Buil a mutual trust
- Be ready to listen to their needs, care of their tastes and antipate their desires
- Offer them a level of quality fit to their
expectation
- Satisfy and delight them with a the best service we can offer
- Consider their well being as our main reason of being
For more than twenty years we have relied on "word of mouth" to maintain our company's good reputation. Our satisfied guests are our best representatives, the success of their stay is important to us.
In the Nature, we encourage our guests to:
- Favour guided activities in small groups which are less harmful to the environment
- When trekking, move quietly and stay at a reasonable distance from the animals not to disturb them in their activities, or to familiarise them with human presence and respect the animal habitats and the area support ability.
- Avoid to nurture the animals no to make them dependant of human presence and modify their diet
- Avoid to trample the flora or preserve the plants, parts of plants and trees
- Preferably use lasting, biodegradable and renewable products, and put the wastes in appropriate places
With the population, we encourage our guests to:
- Contribute to the economical welfare of the local communities in choosing products and services according to the social and natural environmental preservation
- Not to buy endangered or vulnerable species, or products made with them and which trade is forbidden byt the law
- Understand and get informed about the impacts of our activities and behaviours to the natural and social environment
- Be respectful of the customs and traditions of the visited people. Be discreet, courteous and shrewd in the interactions with them
It is crucial for the durability of Sainte Marie's sanctuary that only the accredited ecotouristic operators are authorized to be on whales safari, in order to prevent the whales to be disturbed and flee this area of reproduction, birth and education. Accredited operators comply with rules of good behaviour and know to approach the cetaceans progressively and as peacefully as possible.
During whale watching, Our captains and seamen commit themselves to:
- Keep a distance no less than 100 metres from a group of 1 to 3 adult whales and 200 m for a mother with her young or a group of more than 4 whales.
- Never drive head on to the whales you just spotted. Slow down gradually to 5 knots from 800 m until the 300 m of observation zone
- Spend no longer than 60 minutes near a same group of whales
- Stop the engine and put it into neutral while the whales are at less than 300m
- Never cross the path of whales. Approach is to be from 3/4th back. Steer a parallel course to a group of cetaceans in order to remain in their visual field and minimize their stress.
- Avoid an area where are already more than 2 boats. Where there are many boats, do not encircle nor move between the animals.
- Sudden changes in speed and direction must be avoided within the 300m area of observation
- Never separate a mother whale from her calf in driving or stopping between them.
- Not to approach too closer when they perform acrobatics
