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银梭集团（Quicksilver Group）是保护大堡礁实现可持续发展的领先典范，在其日常运营中融入了以环保为核心的理念，涵盖到以下四个方面：
1. 教育
2. 研究
3. 保护
4. 公众参与
教育
生态课堂计划
  • 沉浸式学习环境: 该计划将展示大堡礁变为一个充满活力、互动性的课堂。通过户外研学活动，学生能够直接接触并深入探索大堡礁，获得宝贵的直观感受与实践知识。
  • 全面的课程对接: 该项目专门按照澳大利亚国家课程标准设计，涵盖海洋学科重点内容。同时，还提供针对高中生物学和海洋科学课程大纲的专项教育模块。
  • 海洋专家指导: 银梭集团的专业的学术团队亲自指导学习，其中包括海洋生物学家和充满热情的大堡礁大师级解说员。
  • 多样化的活动: 该项目包含丰富的实践与观察类活动，例如：导览浮潜、与海洋生物互动讲座、岛屿徒步、玻璃底船观光等。绿岛大堡礁度假村的参观环节还展示了我们的可持续发展理念在实践中的应用，说明环保责任是如何融入旅游活动与度假村的日常管理之中的。
  • 政府的支持: 生态课堂积极配合昆士兰州政府的“大堡礁教育体验计划”以及澳大利亚联邦政府的“大堡礁教育体验基金（REEF）计划”。这些项目现已为符合资格的运营商（昆士兰是银梭集团）提供支持，鼓励更多的学生前往大堡礁参观学习。
研究
可持续运营的基础
  • 珊瑚礁生物调查: 成立于1986年，是我们公司内部一个专注于环境保护的研究部门，也是业内最大的私人雇佣的海洋生物学家团队之一。这一内部专业团队能够将科学研究成果直接应用于日常运营中。他们对大堡礁进行持续监测，并维护着目前最长的珊瑚礁观测日志数据库（超过35年）。这些生物学家还为大堡礁海洋公园管理局（Reef Authority）和昆士兰公园与野生动物管理局（QPWS）等珊瑚礁管理机构提供重要咨询服务，确保各项管理与最新科学研究保持一致。
  • 现场监测: 珊瑚礁生物调查研究部门对我们的各个站点的珊瑚礁健康进行监测和评估。这使我们能够及时发现问题、预测潜在影响，并实施有效的现场管理和保护措施。为了在整个集团运营中扩大监测范围，我们与澳大利亚政府合作，指定参与旅游与珊瑚礁保护计划。
  • 协作研究与干预: 银梭集团积极参与并支持各类珊瑚研究与干预项目。2018 年，我们与 Reef Ecologic 以及澳大利亚政府的国家环境科学计划合作，在阿金考特大堡礁（Agincourt Reef）开展珊瑚康复研究项目。我们还参与了珊瑚修复计划，例如悉尼科技大学的珊瑚养护计划和模块化人工珊瑚礁结构项目。通过与领先科研机构建立运营合作关系，例如与澳大利亚海洋科学研究所在珊瑚礁恢复与适应项目上的合作，以及与热带水域与海洋生态系统研究中心在多个项目上的合作，我们不仅提升了研究的可信度，也为未来的合作项目的推动铺平了道路。最后我们最重要的干预举措是全面的珊瑚捕食者防控计划，主要针对棘冠海星和螺类捕食者。
  • 通过研究进行现场管理: 银梭集团已通过大堡礁管理局的旅游与珊瑚礁保护计划为阿金考特 3号珊瑚礁制定了业内最全面的现场管理计划。这些计划主要基于针对特定礁石点的研究和监测项目，包括生物多样性指数评估、海龟种群动态监测，以及创新地结合无人机监测与 GEONadir 软件进行先进的珊瑚礁地图和海洋生态影响评估。

Reef Biosearch Monitoring

Successful restoration project at Agincourt reef

Coral Nurseries - Moore Reef

Drupella snail intervention

保护
全面举措
  • 先进的垃圾管理: 集团在所有业务中广泛实施“减少、再利用、回收”的计划，以尽量减少填埋垃圾并防止塑料进入海洋。我们的船只遵循严格的规范和操作指南来管理船上的所有垃圾，而陆地运营设施，如工程部门、餐饮、办公室及潜水学校，也都实施了一系列促进可持续发展的垃圾管理措施。绿岛度假村因其在能源、水和垃圾废弃物管理方面的卓越表现，多次获得了可持续发展奖项，并获得了 Eco-Biz 三星级评价。
  • 可再生与更环保的能源应用: 银梭集团在众多设施中使用太阳能辅助系统，包括凯恩斯的潜水执照培训中心、道格拉斯港潜水中心，以及绿岛度假村。我们还为部分双体船投资改装了更新、更环保的发动机技术，采用新一代劳斯莱斯 MTU Series 2000 系列发动机。这些发动机使用可再生燃料，如 HVO（加氢植物油），可实现减少高达 90% 的二氧化碳排放。在 HVO 燃料尚未全面供应给船队之前，所有船只均以最高效率运行，每年进行改装以保持最佳机械状态并降低碳排放；同时，我们的环保巴士也超过了澳大利亚燃油效率和环保排放标准。
  • 生态认证与资质: 银梭集团作为高级生态环保认证运营商，自1997年起获得澳大利亚最高级别的生态认证，并入选澳大利亚生态旅游名人堂。自2008年以来，我们一直保持“气候行动创新者”地位，主动实施适应性措施和减排策略，并通过定期碳足迹审计进行验证。我们的 ECO 认证产品已获全球可持续旅游理事会认可，符合国际可持续发展标准。所有旅游产品均被大堡礁管理局评定为高标准运营商，体现了我们对环境保护和可持续发展的承诺，并为我们获得长期（20年）运营许可提供保障。

Organic fertiliser from a Food Digester

Solar arrays on Green Island

Marine Biologist Snorkel Tours

Interpretation, Underwater Observatory

Onboard Presentations

公众参与
让游客与保护工作紧密相连
  • 科普专家: 科普是银梭集团的产品体验的核心，它作为关键的桥梁，将我们的可持续发展、保护及研究工作与游客紧密联系起来。每一位船员都在其中发挥作用，确保为游客带来难忘的感受和体验。
  • 深度体验的专业向导: 专职的海洋生物学家团队以生动有趣的方式传递大堡礁信息，游客可以直接向海洋生物学家提问，获得个性化的解答和简明易懂的说明。银梭集团还拥有行业内规模最大、训练有素且充满热情的大堡礁大师级讲解员团队。这些讲解员提供专业的解说，更容易帮助游客理解保护大堡礁的意义，并帮助他们与珊瑚礁建立更深的情感联系。
  • 实践中展示保护: 我们的解说项目不仅涵盖珊瑚礁的生物学与生态学，还清晰地说明了如何将影响降至最低并减少碳足迹的可持续管理措施。解说还会重点介绍具体的保护项目，如干预计划（例如珊瑚养护或 MARS 项目）或捕食者控制工作，让游客亲眼见证为提升珊瑚礁复原并支持其康复所采取的积极措施。
  • 可参与的互动活动: 为了让所有游客都能体验珊瑚礁，银梭集团提供多样化的活动，旨在营造包容性的解说体验。每个站点均由我们的解说团队带领开展各类活动，包括半潜水艇游览、海底观景台以及玻璃底船巡游。海洋生物学家还会在船上和浮桥站点进行详细的解说展示，并带领浮潜导览及一系列的陆地活动。
The Quicksilver Group stands as a leading example of sustainable tourism on the Great Barrier Reef, integrating eco-conscious operations across four fundamental pillars:
1. Education
2. Research
3. Conservation
4. Interpretation
Education
The Living Classroom Program
  • Immersive Learning Environment: This program transforms the Great Barrier Reef into a dynamic, interactive classroom. Students gain invaluable direct experience of the reef through this outdoor excursion program.
  • Comprehensive Curriculum Alignment: The program is designed to align with the Australian Curriculum, covering essential cross-curriculum priorities.
    Specialised modules are also available, specifically catering to senior Biology and Marine Science syllabuses.
  • Expert Guidance and Mentorship: Students learn directly from Quicksilver's highly qualified team, including dedicated Reef Biosearch Marine Biologists and passionate Master Reef Guides.
  • Diverse Activities: The program incorporates a wide array of hand-on and observational activities like guided snorkel tours, engaging interactive presentations, island walks and glass bottom boat tours. Back of house tours at Green Island Resort also showcase our sustainability practices, demonstrating how environmental responsibility is integrated into tourism activities and resort management.
  • Leveraging Government Support: The Living Classroom strategically supports initiatives like the Queensland Government's Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program and Federal Governments Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF). These programs now offer subsidies to schools to visit the reef with operators like Quicksilver that qualify as a service provider.
Research
Fundamental to Sustainable Operations
  • Reef Biosearch: Established in 1986, our in-house Research Department is a dedicated environmental division that boasts one of the largest teams of privately employed marine biologists in the industry. This internal expertise ensures the direct application of scientific finding to daily operations. They conduct continuous monitoring and maintain the longest ongoing logbook database (over 35 years) of marine observations on the GBR. These biologists also play a crucial role in advising reef management authorities like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), ensuring alignment with the latest scientific understanding.
  • Site Monitoring: Reef Biosearch actively monitors and assesses reef health at our sites. This allows us to identify issues, predict potential impacts, and implement effective site stewardship management. A significant effort to expand our monitoring efforts throughout our operations has been in partnership with the Australian Government to deliver services for the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI).
  • Collaborative Research & Intervention: Quicksilver actively participates in and supports research and intervention programs. In 2018 we partnered with Reef Ecologic and the Australian Government’s National EnvironmentalScience Program to undertake a reef restoration research project at Agincourt reef. We are also involved in other coral rehabilitation initiatives (e.g., the University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program andModular Artificial Reef Structure - MARS programs). Developing operational partnerships with leading scientific institutions like the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) on their Reef Restoration and Adaptation (RRAP)programs and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) on a variety of projects(e.g. Tile Settlement) has also enhanced our research credibility and opened the door for future collaboration and facilitation of projects in the future. Finally, our most significant intervention effort would have to be our comprehensive coral predator mitigation program targeting COTS (crown of thorns starfish) and Drupella snails.
  • Site Stewardship through Research: Quicksilver has established one of the most comprehensive Site StewardshipPlans (SSP) for Agincourt 3 through the Reef Authority’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI). These plans are fundamentally based on site-specific research and monitoring programs, including biodiversity indexing, turtle population dynamics, and the innovative use of drone monitoring coupled with GEONadir software for advanced reef mapping and impact assessment.

Reef Biosearch Monitoring

Successful restoration project at Agincourt reef

Coral Nurseries - Moore Reef

Drupella snail intervention

Conservation
Comprehensive Initiatives
  • Advanced Waste Management: The Group implements extensive reduce, reuse, recycle programs across all operations to minimise landfill waste and prevent plastics from entering the ocean. Our vessels follow stringent permit and operational guidelines to manage on-board waste and our land based operations such as our engineering facilities, catering, office and dive school locations all implement a range of waste management practices promoting sustainability. Green Island Resort has also received multiple prestigious sustainability awards and an Eco-Biz 3-Star rating for its exemplary energy, water, and waste management program.
  • Renewable & Greener Energy Adoption: Quicksilver utilises supplementary solar power across various facilities, including the Pro Dive Cairns training centre, Port Douglas Dive Centre, and significantly at Green Island Resort. We have invested in new, greener engine technology and engine refits for select catamarans in our fleet with next generation Rolls Royce mtu series 2000 engines. These are certified for renewable fuels like HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) which will deliver up to a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions. Until this HVO fuel is readily available for our fleet, all vessels are operated with maximum efficiency, undergoing annual refits for peak mechanical condition and reduced emissions, and our eco-friendly coaches exceed Australian fuel efficiency and emissions standards.
  • Eco-Accreditation & Certifications: Quicksilver holds the highest eco-certification in Australia as an Advanced Eco-accredited operator (since 1997, earning a place in Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame). We have held Climate Action Innovator status since 2008, proactively undertaking adaptations and emissions reduction strategies verified by regular carbon footprint audits. Our ECO-certified products are approved by the Global SustainableTourism Council (GSTC), adhering to international sustainability standards. All our tourism products are recognised as High Standard Operators (HSO) by the Reef Authority, reflecting our commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, which grants us long-term (20-year) operational permits.

Organic fertiliser from a Food Digester

Solar arrays on Green Island

Marine Biologist Snorkel Tours

Interpretation, Underwater Observatory

Onboard Presentations

Interpretation
Connecting Tourists to Conservation
  • Interpretation Experts: Interpretation is central to the Quicksilver experience, acting as the crucial facilitator of information that directly links our sustainability, conservation, and research efforts with the tourist. Every member of the crew play their part to deliver an unforgettable experience for the visitor.
  • Expert Guides for Deeper Engagement: The dedicated Reef Biosearch team delivers the majority of this information in an entertaining and engaging way and guests gain direct access to marine biologists for personalised questions and simplified explanations. Quicksilver also boasts one of the largest teams of highly trained and passionate Master Reef Guides. These individuals provide expert interpretation that significantly enhance guests’ understanding and foster a deeper emotional connection to the reef.
  • Showcasing Conservation in Action: Our Interpretation program not only covers the biology and ecology of the reef, but also clearly explains the sustainability management practices designed to minimise impacts and reduce our carbon footprint. Interpretation also highlights specific conservation projects, such as intervention programs (e.g., coral nurture or MARS initiatives) or predator control efforts, allowing guests to see firsthand the proactive efforts undertaken to enhance reef resilience and support its recovery.
  • Accessible and interactive Activities: To ensure all visitors can experience the reef, Quicksilver offers a diverserange of activities that promotes an inclusive interpretive experience. Each location offers a range of activitiesled by our interpretation teams and include semi-submersible tours, underwater observatories, and glass-bottomboat excursions. Marine biologists from the Reef Biosearch team also provide detailed interpretive presentationsonboard vessels and at pontoon locations, and lead guided snorkel tours and land based activities.