Save the Waves Coalition, a global non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the coastal environment, is considering adding Surfider Beach to their their World Surfing Reserves program.
Save the Waves Coalition article
World Surfing Reserves describes their program as “An initiative designed to enshrine and protect the world’s greatest surfspots: the most sacred, cherished, environmentally rich and culturally significant areas. The program pro-actively designates and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones and their surrounding environments,around the world. It serves as a global model for preserving wavebreaks and their surrounding areas by recognizing the positive environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits of waves.”
The designation as a WSR is not legally defined and provides no additional level of protection or enforcement. Rather, it is an honorpresented to a select group of surf breaks (only 6 in CA) for theirimportance to the sport.
According to Surfer’s Village, ” Several surf areas in Australia, California, and Hawaii have been proposed for enshrinement as initial WSRs. These were selected from over 125 iconic beaches nominated from 34 countries. The nominations include sites like North Narrabeen and Manly Beach in Australia, Malibu and Santa Cruz in California, and Waikiki and Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii, in addition to many others around the world.
Beyond its cultural and aesthetic significance, each WSR is a meeting of land and sea selected for the unique and salutary nature of its waves and natural setting. The dedication of each WSR seeks the protection of this coastal zone of waves and habitat from wanton destruction and exploitation – through no other mechanism but the positive force of appreciation and valuation.”
Kelly Slater and Yvon Chouinard have lent their support to this initiative. Chouinard commented “Why not have surf breaks, famous, great breaks like Jeffrey’s Bay, Rincon and Malibu as [UNESCO] World Heritage Sites so that the whole world sees their value and wants to protect them?