Off the Beaten Track: A Case Study of Expedition Cruise Ships in South-west Tasmania, Australia

Abstract

This chapter uses a case study of planning and management of expedition cruise ships to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) and argues that scoped research on environmental impacts should playa pivotal role in determining whether expedition cruise ships should be granted permits to operate in these highly sensitive marine ecosystems. The chapter first discusses the growth of the cruise market and places expedition cruise shipping in context. This is followed by an overview of the Tasmanian cruise ship industry. The planning and management requirements for the TWWHA are then introduced with a specific focus on the Bathurst Harbour-Port Davey region. The chapter concludes with a discussion on how an environmental impact study of expedition cruise ships in the region has significantly improved management of the marine area and enabled the finalization of the Guidelines for the Preparation of Licences for Commercial Vessels Operating in Pori Davey-Bathurst Harbour.