The Ocean Environment
Environmental Activism
Human activity is inevitably altering the surrounding land and seascape, unbalancing natural ecosystems through pollution and over-exploitation of resources. Preventing the continued rape and pillage of the environment must centre on raising awareness, education and funding for research that will break the viscous circle of government sanctioned greed that permits mankind to desecrate the oceans. Mainstream organisations such as Greenpeace have the resources and membership to provide international monitoring and response to a wide range of global issues. Surfing orientated environmental activism is still in its infancy and has yet to develop a cohesive, worldwide organisation, relying instead on small localised groups, concentrating on local issues. The Surfrider Foundation represents the highest profile, largest membership environmental group focused on conservation, activism, research and education, providing an invaluable resource for surfers in North America, Australia, Europe, Japan and Brazil. Some of the challenges facing Surfrider and other groups include raising awareness at local, grassroots level, lobbying or advising governments, challenging inappropriate coastal developments, promoting low impact beach access, databasing coastal resources and monitoring pollution, not just for surfers, but all water users. Legislation on water quality has been introduced in most developed countries, although implementation and enforcement will prove to be both expensive and difficult unless full public support is forthcoming. Without a future plan for sustainable, environmentally sound, waste management, an erosion control policy, or adequate coastal access, surfers will continue to be denied the right to enjoy a clean, natural ocean environment.
Stormrider Policies
Paper Books
All our actions have some sort of impact on the planet, so we have planted over a thousand trees to offset the chlorine-free paper we use to produce the Stormrider Guide paper guides.
E-Books
Our Stormrider E-Books (electronic versions of the paper guides) require no logging, paper mills and heavy transport…just a little electricity and they also work flawlessly offline.
Stormrider Passport
A Stormrider Passport subscription is by far the best deal for the environment and you. It replaces over £200/7.5kg of paper books, offers way more information that is instantly searchable and updatable and can be carried with you everywhere. Better still, you are not adding to Apple’s and Amazon’s cash mountain.
Postage
Despite the incredible power of the web, we will always love books and know many people out there feel the same. If you are looking for a physical Stormrider Guide please contact us for a local supplier or click the amazon links under the product descriptions. Sadly we no longer post out books direct as Brexit and increased postal costs has made it prohibitively expensive.
Surf Environmental NGO's
Generally speaking, by necessity, most surfers have a deeper connection and understanding of the natural environment, particularly in and around their favourite surf zones. Threats to the equilibrium of the littoral and inter-tidal zones are many and varied, with pollution, erosion, access and hazards all having a negative impact on coastlines and the communities that live by them. Fortunately, surfers have long been in the front line of environmental activism and there are many dedicated people and organisations out there, fighting for our rights to enjoy the ocean.
Save the Waves
The Mission
Save The Waves Coalition (STW) is an international non-profit that works with diverse organizations dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems across the globe.
The vision is a world where surf ecosystems are valued and protected, and where surfing provides a vehicle for long-term coastal conservation. The goal is to protect 1,000 surf ecosystems by 2030.
We work with organizations and individuals at a grassroots level on an international scale – enabling local surf breaks to be protected by the communities that cherish them the most:
PROTECT
We create protected areas through our flagship World Surfing Reserve program and Surf Protected Area Networks.
STEWARD
We manage projects around the world and encourage coastal stewardship through our Save The Waves App.
DEFEND
We mount international campaigns to defend surf ecosystems under threat and inspire the public to take action.
FIND OUT MORESurfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation’s mission statement is all about the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. It’s a grassroots organisation engaged with a wide range of environmental issues that affect coastlines. USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Japan. www.surfrider.org
Surfers Against Sewage
SAS campaign for clean, safe recreational water, free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals, nuclear waste and marine litter. sas.org.uk
Sustainable Surf
Seeking to help transform the surf industry and community from its current unsustainable operating model to a global model of sustainability in action. www.sustainablesurf.org
Surf Aid
Surf AID is a non-profit humanitarian organisation whose aim is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. https://surfaid.org/
Waves 4 Water
Waves 4 Water has developed a DIY volunteer program called Clean Water Couriers. Surfers traveling to third-world countries add some water filters to their luggage and either deliver them to local non-profits or install the simple systems in remote villages. www.wavesforwater.org
Surfers For Crustaceans
Calls on surfers everywhere to support the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife, while protesting against whaling, the killing of threatened or endangered species and the constant polluting and degradation of our marine environment. www.s4cglobal.org
Waves For Development
Create life-enriching experiences in coastal communities through educational surf programs. Cultural exchange, environmental conservation, life skills, social entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism are values this surf NGO wants to promote. www.wavesfordevelopment.org
Other Organisations
ADVENTURERS & SCIENTISTS FOR CONSERVATION
Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation is an organisation that uses adventure athletes to gather scientific data and knowledge of the natural environment, while on a trip to a remote area. Data collection can be expensive, time consuming, and physically challenging, so this partnership enables outdoor ambassadors to acquire the relevant skills before heading out into the more difficult to reach corners of the world. ASC has utilized the unique skills of climbers, mountaineers, divers, paddlers and other adventurers to acquire this data. www.adventureandscience.org
Greenpeace
Defending Our Oceans is committed to defending the health of the world’s oceans and the plants, animals and people that depend upon them. www.greenpeace.org
Oceana
The largest international group focused 100% on protecting and restoring the world’s oceans. www.oceana.org
Reef Check
an international non-profit organisation aimed at protecting and rehabilitating reefs worldwide, dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. www.reefcheck.org
1% For the Planet
Aims to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. They offer a simple, tangible and proactive way for the business community to be a part of the solution.
www.sustainablesurf.orgWildcoast
Sets out to protect some of the most beautiful and biologically significant coastal areas in California and Latin America. Today, WiLDCOAST operates 4 main programs – Wildlife Conservation, Marine Life Conservation, Coastal Conservation, and Climate Change. www.wildcoast.net
Conservation International
Conservation International has joined forces with partners across the world to protect thousands of waves and surrounding ecosystems, through the creation of Surf Protected Areas. www.conservation.org/surf
Regional Organisations
UK: 2 Minute Beach Clean; The Plastic Project
USA: Surfers’ Enviro. Alliance; Sierra Club; Ocean Institute; LiVBLUE; Ocean Revolution
Hawaii: KAHEA – The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance; North Shore Community Land Trust; Surfing Education Association
Mexico: LiVBLUE; Ocean Revolution; SurfEns
Peru: DGCostera
New Zealand: Surfbreak Protection Society
Australia: Nat’l Surfing Reserves
Portugal: Salvem o Surf
Responsible Travel
Stormrider Guides promote travel, but there is no escaping the fact that damage to the planet will occur, regardless of the method of transport. Travelling responsibly means conserving natural resources, supporting local cultures and minimising our environmental impact to help mitigate against our travel footprints.
BEFORE TRAVELLING
- Research your destination as much as possible. Look into history, culture, natural environment, customs, legends, advisory notices and more. Avoid high season travel if possible.
- Learn a few words in the local language. People appreciate any effort to speak the local language and simple words like “Hello, Please” and “Thank you” can go a long way.
- Pack light and remove any new packaging items (cardboard, plastic, etc) that consume luggage space and create excess trash for foreign countries lacking recycling services. Take environmentally friendly clothing and travel gear made from recycled, reused, organic, and sustainable natural materials such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Use paperless ticketing, a reusable shopping bag and re-usable containers for toiletries that should be biodegradable.
- Pack rechargeable batteries, a battery charger and plug adapter. Single-use batteries are incredibly toxic and many countries do not have proper disposal facilities, so bring any used batteries back home.
- Take a reusable water bottle and use purification tablets, or decant from the largest bottles available locally to reduce waste from single-use plastic, disposable bottles.
Book hotels that publish their environmental impact, employment and cultural policy. Newer hotels will be more energy efficient. - Minimize transportation pollution and environmental impact by using alternative, fuel-efficient transport methods and offsetting your carbon emissions.
Unplug your home and office appliances.
WHILE TRAVELLING
- Engage in local culture. Eat local foods, shop in local markets and attend local festivals.
- Buy locally sourced products and services. Choose organic, ocean-friendly and sustainably sourced foods. Support locally owned businesses, community tour operators and artisans where your money will go directly to the local economy. Avoid buying products made from threatened natural resources and report poaching or other illegal activities to the local authorities.
- Refrain from over-aggressive bargaining and haggling over small change that could make a bigger difference to the vendor’s life.
- Hire local guides who are knowledgeable about the destination.
- Tread lightly. Follow designated trails, respect signs, rules and caretakers and never remove archaeological/biological material from sites.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Maintain normal environmental habits when traveling, including turning off lights and using less water.
- Turn off heating or air-con until you are in the room. Avoid excessive washing of sheets, towels and clothes in hotels. Opt for beverages in reusable glass bottles.
- Use the suggestion box to inform your hotel/hosts ideas on how to operate a more environmentally friendly business.
AFTER TRAVELLING
- Share your responsible travel tips on how to positively impact the World, while still having an amazing journey. Share or donate your travel guides, brochures and literature to minimize waste.
- Give back. Traveling often opens your eyes and heart to something new. Donate to a local charity.