Care for Catalina was founded in 2019 with the following vision:
Catalina Island is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind destination with visitors traveling from around the world. Care For Catalina encourages dedication to conservation and sustainability efforts on Catalina Island limiting human impacts, protecting the environment, and to sustainably commit to future generations enjoying the island. Together with community and statewide partners, Care For Catalina is fostering a new standard and better environment for all.
Care for Catalina encourages travelers to Visit Catalina Island, but with a light footprint.
When visiting Catalina Island, the need to be conscious of limiting waste and consumption of precious resources is paramount to the long-term experiences had by visitors and residents alike.
In 2024, Care for Catalina became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, governed by the board of Love Catalina Island. You can view our nonprofit Bylaws here.
What we're doing
As a community, we are working hard on sustainability. The Catalina Island Conservancy manages nearly 90 percent of Catalina’s majestic landscape. They were honored as CalTravel's Tourism Steward of the year for 2018/19 due to their extensive work on trails and greening of infrastructure under their control (and much, much more). We also work closely with the Catalina Island Marine Protection Area's collaborative to inform where boating and fishing is allowed around the island. Here you can download a map of Catalina's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
The majority of our local fishing boats and seafood serving restaurants support sustainable fishing practices. Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority, is a proud member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Every stay in one of our Kind Traveler hotels and every adventure with one of our KInd Traveler activities donates to programs that sustain Catalina Island.
Care for Catalina is an evolving program, so check back frequently for additions and changes.
What you can do
One of the best ways to minimize your impact as a visitor, is to travel to our more off-the-beaten path locations or at off-peak days/times of year. Some other ways to visit the island with a limited impact are outlined below. July is the busiest month of the year and Saturdays have the highest number of guests arriving on the island. For assistance in planning your low impact visit, contact the Catalina Island Visitor Center. We are always open to suggestions and comments based on your experience on the island. Learn more about what you can do to travel responsibly from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, including how and why to travel responsibly.
The Care for Catalina Promise asks you to….
Leave it like you found it, or even better!
- Carry in, Carry out. Pick up litter and place crumbs, peels and cores in your nearest waste/recycling bin. If you brought it with you to the island, please take it home when you go.
- Treat all living things with respect. Carving or hacking plants and trees may kill or disfigure them.
- One of the most important items to take away are plastic beach toys. For the comfort and space among your fellow travelers, be sure to deflate them before heading home,
- Leave plants, rocks and historical items as you find them so others experience the joy of discovery.
- Any of our 400 native plants and 200 non-native plant species will live forever in a photo. Snap away, but only with a camera.
- Participate in Voluntourism programs like beach clean-ups, harbor clean-ups and more. Consider making a group project of Voluntourism before or after your island meeting/event.
- Avoid use of plastics whenever possible, as plastics are the top ocean pollutant and are extremely harmful to ocean species.
- If you come into contact with a sick or injured wild animal contact the appropriate agency for their care. Report sick or injured marine animals to 800-399-4253 and land animals to 310-510-0393.
Care for our precious natural resources
- Skipping a linen change in your Hotel or Bed & Breakfast stay saves over 17 gallons of water and reduces use of fossil fuels and cleaning chemicals.
- Short Showers should be the norm no matter where you go, but even more so on Catalina Island where we have to depend on mother nature or expensive desalinization systems to provide water.
- Avoid sunscreens with high content of Titanium Dioxide. This mineral does not biodegrade and is found to react in warm seawater to form hydrogen peroxide which is harmful to all sea life. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, the two chemicals recently banned in Hawaii and are believed to cause coral bleaching.
- Keep your distance. Wash yourself, your dog or whatever else needs cleaning at least 200 feet from waterways, and use biodegradable soap.
Protect marine life ~ boater information
- Never dump raw sewage into the waters in and around the island.*
- Use public toilets onshore.
- Use pump out facilities (Catalina Harbor or Two Harbors) to dispose of holding tank waste.
- Keep “Y” valve properly secured and in the closed position when navigating around the island to prevent accidental discharge.
- Use caution when filling your fuel tank and don’t top off.
- Inspect fuel lines and hoses periodically. Replace when needed.
- Do not hose down gas spills or apply detergents or soaps to spill.
- Keep your bilges clean and well maintained. Do not use detergents while cleaning.
- Never throw trash overboard.
- Prevent plastic bags, drink cans and loose items from blowing overboard.
- Separate all trash; a trash pick-up vessel, “The Salad Boat," services all leeside coves during the summer months. However, returning your trash to the mainland is greatly appreciated.
- Avalon Harbor Dept. discharge ordinance *Discharges of untreated sewage are prohibited within the navigable waters of the U.S. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.1321 et seq.)
