Surfing: our sport must respect Nature

The planet is facing ever increasing environmental pressures, not least when it comes down to our oceans. From sewage pollution to marine litter, coastal development to climate change, as a group of like-minded individuals we are all often faced with these issues first-hand when using our precious chosen beaches.

Surfers Against Sewage brings us all together as people who love, enjoy and use the sea, not to mention those who are perhaps the most inclined to do something to help protect our coastal areas, in fact any area, from environmental damage. But what is the big picture and how can we adapt our lifestyles to make a positive difference no matter how small?

The Sustainable Guide to Surfing is a thought-provoking, challenging and sometimes bleak assessment of the challenges that face our environment and how we, as surfers, contribute to them. But it also outlines how well-placed the surfing community is to influence positive action to tackle these issues and influence the masses to adopt an increasingly sustainable way of living.

Download a PDF of the report, here.

The act of surfing itself is extremely low impact. We use a natural, renewable energy wave. We can carry on surfing without adversely impacting the environment. But we need to check our associated lifestyle around surfing to ensure we can enjoy clean waves tomorrow and beyond.

The guide identifies a basic call to arms for surfers, one that harks back to the maverick, pioneer spirit that so often set apart surfers as a resourceful group of individuals intent on getting away from the mainstream and defining themselves in their own terms. Source: SurferToday