Sustainable Tourism: Green Fins

What is Green Fins?

Established in 2004, Green Fins is an international program coordinated by the UN Environment Programme and the Reef‑World Foundation that sets a global Code of Conduct to reduce negative impacts of marine tourism through sustainable snorkeling and diving practices. Green Fins is being implemented in Indonesia by Coral Triangle Center (CTC).

The initiative supports marine tourism operators in reducing their environmental impact through practical guidance and assessment. At the heart of Green Fins is a comprehensive Code of Conduct, which outlines 15 clear environmental standards. These cover both above-water and underwater practices and apply not only to coral reefs, but also to other sensitive marine ecosystems such as seagrass beds, mangroves, and kelp forests.

Why it Matters

By joining, operators commit to measurable environmental improvements. Green Fins is the only internationally recognized standard in this field, proven to protect coral reefs and build resilience.

The Green Fins scoring system assesses dive and snorkel operators on a 0-330 scale, where lower scores reflect lower environmental impact.

Using the Green Environmental Assessment Rating System (GEARS) and the Green Fins Code of Conduct, operators are assessed annually and receive targeted training and clear action points for continuous improvement.

Result & Impact

Green Fins has grown into a network of nearly 700 operators across 14 countries. More than 500 dive and snorkel centers have been certified since its inception. On average, members improve their sustainability practices by 20%, leading to real reductions in reef damage and more responsible tourism behavior. 

For more information, visit the Green Fins website.

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