Sustainability Spotlight: Out to Sea Expedition Company

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.

Founded in 2019 by Ketchikan locals Eric Lunde and Delaney Murphy, Out to Sea Expedition Company is an outdoor adventure business specializing in small group, nature & wildlife eco-tours aboard fully inflatable Zodiacs. The couple was inspired by their mutual love of the pristine wilderness and wildness of Alaska, and a desire to share their beautiful home with visitors from around the world in a way that is both responsible and authentically Alaskan. Eric has worked in the maritime industry in Alaska for over 25 years and Delaney comes from a local commercial fishing family, so they are both at home on the ocean and enjoy sharing the magic of Southeast Alaska with their guests. Out to Sea Expeditions caters to adventurous visitors that want to get off the beaten path and explore Alaska with all of their senses.

They created their company to be environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, and though starting a small tourism business 8 months before a global pandemic was less than ideal, they never wavered from their commitment. In addition to their Adventure Green Alaska certification, Out to Sea is currently the only 1% for the Planet business operating in Ketchikan. They are also members of Whale SENSE and use their required stewardship project to focus on removing marine debris and participating in citizen science.

Out to Sea Expedition Company recommends to businesses who are seeking to implement sustainable practices to start from the beginning, but it’s never too late to enact positive change. They suggest for businesses to consider the ways that their activities may impact the environment and communities they operate in. Out to Sea Expedition Company recommends to first identify areas where your business can reduce negative impacts, then move to finding ways your operations can benefit the surrounding ecosystem (this includes both the natural environment, local communities, cultures etc.). They say that “we’re all learning, and you won’t always get it right, but progress is more important than perfection when it comes to developing a more sustainable tourism industry”.

As a part of their participation in Whale SENSE, they conduct an annual stewardship project within their community. Since 2021 their focus has been on removing marine debris from local beaches and waters. This includes at least one beach cleanup each summer and removing items from the ocean on their daily tours. They often return to the same remote beaches each year, and they are proud to say that they have seen a noticeable difference at one site in just a few years of removing marine debris. In 2024, they also began monitoring for invasive European Green Crab as a part of their effort to incorporate citizen science into their stewardship project. The recent discovery of this invasive species in their area is very concerning due to the potential ecosystem impacts. Monitoring can aid in detection of the invasive species, while also providing scientists with baseline data of existing species. In 2025, they hope to increase their monitoring efforts and include this citizen science project into more of their trips.

The Adventure Green Alaska pillars that most align with Out to Sea Expedition Company are supporting the local community and the environment. They chose fully inflatable Zodiac Milpro HD vessels as their platform to explore the waters surrounding Ketchikan because they are quiet, fuel efficient, and they get guests closer to the environment, letting them experience salty splashes, the sound of calling birds and the distant breath of a marine mammal, or even the feeling of rain that nourishes the forests.

Out to Sea Expedition Company has an opportunity to provide education and inspire actions about the issues affecting the incredible nature and wildlife guests experience while visiting Alaska. To educate and set a good example to guests, they explain the importance of removing marine debris from the ocean and respectfully viewing magnificent marine mammals. In addition to being good stewards of the environment, they are also good stewards of their local community. They are business owners, but they are also community members, and they want to see their community thrive. When they support local events, nonprofits, and other small businesses, they are investing in the future of the place they love.

The Adventure Green Alaska program has benefited Out to Sea Expedition Company by allowing them to connect with other Alaskan businesses that share similar values and provide inspiration that helps them continuously improve their own sustainability practices.

To learn more about Out to Sea Expedition Company, visit their Green Business profile and their website.