Ocean friendly workshop

Hospitality industry representatives, ranging from hoteliers, restauranteurs to water tour operators, were set to be part of an Ocean Standard workshop exchanging ideas on conservation practices in the sector that will protect the ocean from contamination.

This workshop, at Sandals, follows The Oceanic Global Foundation’s launch at the Copacabana last night of the ‘Barbados Standard’ for ocean-friendly practices.

The panel discussion and exhibition last night were in partnership with ‘Sustainable Caribbean’, the local chapter of the foundation that aims to work along with hospitality industry operators as they bring more ocean-friendly practices into their operations.

Oceanic Global Foundation Project Manager, Cassia Patel, explained that the organisation “is a non-profit body dedicated to engaging new audiences in ocean conservation”

“Our call to action is responsible consumption, starting with individual behavioural change.”

She said its three operating pillars are, “engaging in grass roots activation; … working with businesses, “particularly in the hospitality industry, guiding them through the transition to implementing sustainable alternatives through our programme the Oceanic Standard; and working with governments to inspire policy reform”.

The environmentalist said, “we’ve helped introduce two New York City bills regarding banning single-use plastics. And we’ve come down here to support the upcoming nation-wide … ban single-use plastics”. (GA)