Ongoing Initiatives & Programs
Invasive Plant Removal
Invasive species can be detrimental to the health of an ecosystem and cause harm to the environment and even human health. Care for Catalina has organized Invasive Plant Removal Days. During a program at White’s Landing, volunteers helped with the removal of 17,247 Sea Rocket Plants, an invasive weed species on the Island. 15 team members and helpers from Love Catalina and Catalina Island Conservancy came out to support.
Recycling Efforts
Recycling and thinking about efficiency are as important as Care for Catalina's clean-up efforts. In April, Shred Days are hosted with local businesses and volunteers. The goal was to shred old documents that could be recycled off the Island.
Kind Traveler Program
Love Catalina has partnered with Visit California to launch the Kind Traveler Program—a sustainable tourism effort that will encourage guests to donate to Catalina’s conservation efforts. Through Kind Traveler’s new Every Stay Gives Back (ESGB) program designed to advance sustainable & regenerative tourism principles, we’ve created a formalized giving program for hotels to mobilize funding for local Catalina Island nonprofits with every guest stay, regardless of where the booking originated.
Travelers visiting the island can play an important role in the conservation of Catalina Island. Travelers who book a hotel stay directly via the Kind Traveler website will be prompted to donate to the Catalina Island Conservancy or Catalina’s Marine Animal Rescue Program. The two nonprofits and a few hotels are fully on board already, with more lodging options in the works. Avalon Hotel and Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, are leading the way among lodgers.
Alternative Fuel
Care for Catalina has worked hard to prevent unnecessary pollution on the island and is excited to announce that Biodiesel is now the fuel of choice for most of the passenger ferries serving Catalina. Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured from vegetable oils and soybeans. The Catalina Express has implemented a biodiesel fuel program for vessels fueling at its two busiest departure points—the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach.
Catalina Express has always been environmentally conscious and has strived to go above environmental regulations to help preserve Southern California’s coastline. Over the years, Catalina Express has worked closely with marine architects and engine manufacturers to develop vessels that reduce emissions. “Each of the eight vessels has been re-engined to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and updated to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier 2 or Tier 3 regulations for emissions levels,” says Greg Bombard, President and CEO of Catalina Express. As far back as 2017, the Port of Los Angeles has reported that Catalina Express has reduced 800 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions, 30 tons of particulate matter emissions, and 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of 10,000 cars.
Recently the City of Avalon approved a requirement for future commercial vehicles (autoettes) to be powered by electricity, effective January 1, 2024. In addition, the city is putting into service an all-electric fleet for its transit services. The new electric vehicles will consist of 2 full-size ADA-compliant vans and up to 4 micro-transit vehicles that are not only electric but much smaller in size. “We are very excited because the vans will be arriving in Avalon and placed into service by the end of June and the micro-transit shortly thereafter,” said City Manager David Maistros.
Submarine & Inside Land Tours
Catalina Adventure Tours
Book Direct & Save! Tours offered multiple times daily, Submarine tours depart from Green Pier & Inside Land Tours from the Mole.
$10 Off Catalina Island Ferry
Onboard Catalina Flyer
Hop onboard the Catalina Flyer for daily ferry service from Newport Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island in just over 1 hour.
