There are approximately 1,500 tour boat operators with a combined fleet of approximately 3,800 vessels offering various sailing, fishing and diving activities in Australia’s marine environments. Many of these operate within marine protected areas (MPAs), such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), and have the potential to adversely impact on human health and the environment from the operation of their vessels. These boating related environmental impacts stem from emissions and/or discharges of sewage, garbage, oil, greenhouse gases, antifouling agents and the physical disturbance of substrates, flora and fauna from anchoring, grounding, engine/propeller noise, vessel movement, etc.. There are, however, various measures available to promote more sustainable management of these boating related environmental impacts that involve regulation, voluntary programs and economic prompts. This thesis investigates the specific boating related environmental impacts of the industry on the marine environment and identifies opportunities to improve the environmental performance of Australian tour boat operators with respect to the operation of their vessels. Fieldwork was undertaken in Cairns, the Whitsundays, the Moreton Bay/Gold Coast region, Sydney, Melbourne, Broome and Exmouth. This thesis provides the first account of the standards and practices of the Australian tour boat industry making an original contribution to this field through the collection, presentation and interpretation of the new data. It also identified that the most effective ways to promote this is through the better education of operators to promote behavioural changes and practical measures on board. It is argued that a national tour boat operator organisation could assist in reducing environmental impacts and making the industry more sustainable.