Coastal Blog
January 30 2013
Plastic Sushi - Still A Hit!
A little over a year ago we 'launched' a couple of new print PSA's created by our friends at Pollinate in Oregon. The plastic sushi piece was an instant hit on Facebook and was quickly shared over 20,000 times from various Surfrider Foundation related pages. Many people shared it again…
January 24 2013
Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan Approved
Ocean Ecosystems Ocean Energy Surf Protection
After five years of stakeholder engagement, Oregon's Land Conservation and Development Commission adopted amendments for Oregon's Territorial Sea Plan that provides suitable locations for siting renewable ocean energy, and protects important habitats and existing uses like ocean recreation.
January 24 2013
Plastic Pollution Solution Kits
This video provides an overview of the Plastic Pollution Solutions educational kit that was developed by 5 Gyres Institute and the Surfrider Foundation. These kits were initially intended for Surfrider Chapters and Marcus from 5 Gyres made extras so that additional Chapters or other interested activists can get one.
January 23 2013
My year of surfing in review
Surf Protection Surf Economics
Surfers are a pretty avid bunch - meaning they tend to surf a lot. I tracked my surfing in 2012 and made an infographic summarizing the year. This is essential information for surfonomics. Check it out and tell us about your surfing.
January 22 2013
Surfrider Overcomes Big Challenge to Access on the Big Island!
In Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation’s Hilo Chapter has fought for over the past two years to open up trail access to Papaikou Mill Beach, one of the few sandy beaches on the East side of the Big Island. Known as a popular surfing, fishing and recreational spot, the beach is also…
January 18 2013
Can California’s Marine Protected Areas protect surfing?
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas Surf Protection
California recently established the largest network of marine protection in the continental United States. One of the outstanding questions during the MPA designation process was, will these marine protected areas benefit surfing in any way? Answers are starting to come in...
January 15 2013
2013 Rise Above Plastics Program Plan
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
Here is a four minute video that provides an overview of the Rise Above Plastics program and our goals for this year. If you are not involved with a Surfrider Chapter, you can find the closest one at www.surfrider.org/chapters.
January 10 2013
Help Get Trestles and San Onofre Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
San Onofre and Trestles have been synonymous with California surfing since the 1930s. We now have the opportunity to have it recognized for its historical contributions by being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
January 08 2013
Are You A Bag Hero?
The Surfrider Foundation Coastal Bend (TX) Chapter has developed a great program to highlight community members who are using reusable bags. The Bag Hero program demonstrates how easy it is to bring your own bags and why it’s important. Each month they recognize an exceptional community member who has chosen…
January 02 2013
New Year Rings In With Plastic Reductions!
Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans Expanded Polystyrene Foam
2012 saw an increased groundswell of local actions across the county aimed at reducing plastic litter and some of the ordinances took effect on January 1st. Corvallis, OR; Alameda County, CA; Laguna Beach, CA and Barrington, RI all have banned single-use plastic checkout bags at grocery stores. In San Marcos,…
December 23 2012
Expansion Proposed for Marine Sanctuaries off Northern California
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas
The Obama Administration is planning to expand the Gulf of Farollones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries to protect the northern California coast from offshore drilling. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted by NOAA until March 1, 2013
December 21 2012
Federal Marine Debris Legislation Signed by the President
Legal Rise Above Plastics Tsunami Debris
President Barack Obama signed the Marine Debris Act Amendments (Farr - H.R. 1171) into law on December 20, 2012 as part of the Coast Guard Maritime Transportation Act (H.R. 2838). The Marine Debris Act Amendments reauthroizes and amends the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act to create a marine…
December 20 2012
California’s Marine Protected Areas in Full Swing
Ocean Ecosystems Marine Protected Areas
Have you ever heard the saying, “so goes California so goes the Nation”? Well, ocean advocates across the nation are hoping these words ring true when it comes to protecting important ocean resources. The State of California now officially owns a complete network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These MPAs…
December 18 2012
More Plastic Bag Reduction Efforts
Last week we covered the groundswell of plastic bag ordinances sweeping through California and this week we are happy to report another international bag ban while legislators on the East Coast are looking to place statewide fees on carryout bags. Both houses of the Swiss Parliament voted to forbid the…
December 17 2012
Surfrider Foundation Supports Los Angeles County Bag Ban in Court
Legal Rise Above Plastics Bag Bans
Surfrider Foundation, by and through our Los Angeles County Chapters and along with a coalition of environmental groups, filed an amicus or “friend of the court” brief in support of Los Angeles County in Schmeer v. Los Angeles County. In this case, the County of Los Angeles is being used…
December 17 2012
Hijacking our Beaches for Sandy Relief
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill
President Obama and Congress are rightfully moving to provide federal assistance for those impacted by Hurricane (Superstorm) Sandy. Unfortunately in their zeal for action the Senate is proposing to go far and beyond what is needed for disaster recovery, threatening the future health and vitality of our coastal beaches and…
December 14 2012
Plastic Bag Reduction Week in California!
This week saw three cities in California move forward with different stages of a plastic checkout bag ban for grocers and retail food stores. After state legislators failed to pass AB 298 this year, the statewide bag ban, it is imperative for cities, towns and counties to continue the groundswell…
December 12 2012
Beachfills, Dunes, and Seawalls Oh My!
Coastal Preservation Beach Dredge & Fill Shoreline Armoring
We don't really like seawalls at Surfrider Foundation, I know. But to put a large structure on the ocean side of a seawall, now that's just a lose, lose proposition. Exhibit A from Sea Bright, NJ.
December 11 2012
The Toilet Bowl Effect: Gurgles and Flushes from Pico-Kenter Storm Drain
Blue Water Task Force Youth Rise Above Plastics Water Quality
Students at Santa Monica High School measured high bacteria levels and picked up more than 75 lbs of trash flushed through the Pico-Kenter storm drain by rain events in November. Read the press release they sent out documenting this pollution.
December 10 2012
BWTF data detects sewer overflows at beaches in Newport, Oregon
Blue Water Task Force Partnerships Source Identification Water Quality
Very high bacteria levels detected by the Newport Chapter's BWTF water testing program indicated an ongoing problem with sewer overflows in the area during wet weather. The beaches were posted in the short-term, but the Chapter has been working with the city for nearly 10 years now to address multiple…
