Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador has presented the Bonne Bay Marine Station with its Sustainable Tourism Award.

Karen Wolfrey of Parks Canada presented the award in Gander recently during the tourism professional development luncheon, part of the organization’s annual conference and trade show.

“Every year, our industry celebrates the tremendous achievements of businesses, leaders and organizations whose hard work and dedication help grow and strengthen our provincial tourism industry,” said Rex Avery, chair, Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. “These individuals demonstrate an outstanding commitment to the advancement of Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism industry and I would like to congratulate all the recipients and sincerely thank them for their contribution.”

The Sustainable Tourism Award recognizes an industry operator who has made strides in sustainable tourism practices and continually works toward the protection of our natural and cultural resources.

The Bonne Bay Marine Station and its aquarium is a world-class research and teaching facility in Gros Morne National Park, dedicated to expanding visitors’ knowledge and understanding of marine ecology by encouraging hands-on practical experiences through the aquarium tours and programs. Experiential learning is at the heart of the station’s visitor experience.

The station, jointly operated by Memorial University and the Gros Morne Co-operating Association, is actively engaged in research that is based on the protection and preservation of natural and cultural heritage resources.

“One of the key mandates of the Bonne Bay Marine Station is to support significant activities in public education and regional economic development via our interpretive components,” said Dr. Robert Scott, director of the station. “Our public outreach is a highly successful part of our mandate and is a hub for tourism development for the Norris Point area. We are proud of this recognition from Hospitality N.L. and look forward to working with our partners to encourage further development towards making the facility one of the top marine stations in North America.”

The facility welcomes more than 10,000 visitors through its doors for aquarium tours each year and hundreds more for multi-week stays as researchers and students. The station plays a major role in the community and region through public education initiatives, community beach cleanups and by providing a venue for festivals and events.

“The star performers at the Bonne Bay Marine Station have always been the native seaweeds, fish and invertebrates of Gros Morne’s seas,” said Dr. Bob Hooper, a former director of the station who was involved with the facility from its inception as a temporary shore station for university research in 1970. “The displays at the station have always highlighted Memorial University’s research discoveries and its public outreach and tourism design is a partnership between Memorial, Gros Morne and local fishing communities and tourist businesses.”

In addition to educating guests about marine ecology and environmental issues such as climate change, the station helps visitors become more aware of the delicate balance that exists between the marine environment and the people in coastal communities who build their lives based on the same limited coastal marine resources. The Bonne Bay Marine Station is committed to the protection of natural and cultural resources and is a beacon for sustainable tourism practices throughout the province.