California Resolution Approved

Source: Save the Waves Coalition - www.savethewaves.org

The state of California's leading coastal environmental planning agency and a world leader in effective coastal management, the California Coastal Commission, last Friday voted unanimously to recognize and support the designation of World Surfing Reserves in California and worldwide.

In approving this historic resoluti on the California Coastal Commission once again exhibits its role as a progressive world leader on critical coastal issues that face government, citizens and the environment. Save The Waves Coalition and coastal commissioner Ross Mirkarimi argued successfully before the commission's board to win unanimous approval to support the program. This resolution comes at a crucial moment in the World Surfing Reserves program because 2010 will see the dedication of two World Surfing Reserves sites.

California is remarkably significant in the World Surfing Reserves program because 6 out of the United States' 9 nominated World Surfing Reserves are located on the California coast and within the commission's regulatory jurisdiction. While addressing the commission to encourage a vote in full support of the resolution, Commissioner Ross Mirkarimi said, "In the past, California has lost precious wave-riding breaks under poorly-regulated coastal construction, and this resolution sends a strong message that we must preserve natural surfing breaks. This resolution is another great example of how surfing and ocean enthusiasts can unite with maritime and environmental sciences to lead in protecting our coasts and oceans."

The California Coastal Commission was established by voter initiative in 1972 (Proposition 20) and later made permanent by the Legislature through adoption of the California Coastal Act of 1976. The Coastal Act asserts that the people of California must have unhindered public access to their shoreline, and that low cost recreat ional opportunities not available at inland destinations - such as surfing - must be protected in perpetuity for present and future generations.

Save The Waves Coalition hopes this resolution will further encourage Californians to actively support World Surfing Reserves; the resolution also provides a leading example of how government can be engaged to protect our surfing resources and the coastal environment.

The complete language of this resolution to support World Surfing Reserves can be read and downloaded as a PDF from our Save The Waves Library.

World Surfing Reserves Update

Following the first-ever nomination and selection process in 2009, the very first surf spots will be enshrined and protected in 2010 as World Surfing Reserves. In December 2009 the program's 23-member Vision Council met to hammer out final details of the program and approve a short list of waves slated for potential enshrinement. Of these, the goal is for two surf spots to be selected and enshrined in 2010.

The annual meeting of the Vision Council culminated a year's worth of significant progress in making World Surfing Reserves a reality, including setting up the program structure, processes and governance, as well as completing the program's first nomination and selection process for potential World Surfing Reserve sites around the world. In all, 125 sites from 34 different countries were nominated in 2009, underscoring the true global nature of the program. The program was officially launched in December 2008 at the Value of Waves Roundtable. The fundamental goal for this annual meeting was to get approval from the Vision Council to move forward with actual surf spot enshrinements in 2010. 

After some healthy debate and discussion of critical issues, Vision Council approval was achieved! Staff is now working on the steps towards several potential enshrinements. Which sites will become the very first World Surfing Reserves Stay tuned as Save The Waves will divulge the prioritized sites in the coming months, as we establish partnerships with groups of local activists (Local Steering Committees) and continue the path towards proactive surf spot protection!

If you want to participate and volunteer in this exciting chapter of Save The Waves please contact us and/or send your CV so we can plan where you might be able to help the cause.