Our Sustainability Spotlight series is aimed at broadening the conversation surrounding sustainable tourism for visitors and businesses by sharing the stories of our Adventure Green Alaska certified businesses. To learn more about Adventure Green Alaska certification please visit our about page.

Seward Ocean Excursions was founded in 2016 by a local Seward family, Bixler and Krystin McClure. Bixler has strong family ties to Seward spanning multiple generations, and Krystin has roots in Fairbanks, Alaska. Bixler has an M.A. degree in Environmental Geography from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His thesis was on the environmental and social impacts of SCUBA diving in several locations around Hawaii, and he worked as a researcher for several sustainable tourism groups through the University. Krystin has an M.S. in Ocean and Resources Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which focused on the sustainable use of the ocean’s resources. Their education and work experience fostered an interest in sustainable tourism.

Bixler and Krystin dreamed for years about sharing their beautiful neck of the woods (and ocean) with visitors, and in 2016 they decided to give it a go and started Seward Ocean Excursions. In 2016, Seward Ocean Excursions was just Bixler, Krystin, and one boat. Over the course of several years, they expanded to three boats and a handful of other captains. Seward Ocean Excursions offers year-round small group (a maximum of 6 guests per boat) wildlife and sightseeing tours in Seward, Alaska.

Seward Ocean Excursions has been implementing sustainable practices since the very beginning, even before purchasing their first boat. They wanted to share the small group experience on a very fuel-efficient boat. They conducted a lot of research, ran a lot of Excel spreadsheets, looked at a lot of boats, and talked to many boat builders before finally deciding on the boat that met their criteria. Since starting operations in 2016, all of their other practices have been in place (i.e. recycling, being open year-round, providing donations, and conducting beach cleanups).

To businesses looking to begin their sustainable journey, Seward Ocean Excursions recommends brainstorming ideas on how to lessen any impacts from your operations. It is important to remember that sustainability does not just involve the natural environment, but to be mindful of any impacts on the social, cultural, and economic environments the business operates in.

Above all else, Seward Ocean Excursions is most proud of their positive impact on the community. From running free trips for local families, to involving the community in beach cleanups, to donating to countless local causes, Seward Ocean Excursions is a positive and impactful member of the local community. While all of their other practices are important as well, they believe helping the community that they live and operate in has a great effect, especially being located in a small town.

Seward Ocean Excursions’ participation in the Adventure Green Alaska program has helped them codify and grow their sustainable practices while being highlighted with other peers in the sustainable tourism sphere in Alaska.

To learn more about Seward Ocean Excursions, visit their Green Business profile and their website.