Coastal Blog

Gulf Coast Surfers Are Suffering, Too — And Health Risks Are Unclear

Written by Surfrider Foundation | Aug 5, 2010 7:00:00 AM


“You can’t see the oil anymore, but you can taste it,” said Mcelroy, who surfed again last week and whose surf shop is down over 70% in business from last year since tourism in Alabama is almost nonexistent.


Gulf coast surfers and surf-related business are suffering despite good surf conditions.

When surfing was closed along a mere 14 miles of coast for 34 days in Huntington Beach due to the American Trader oil spill, the value of the lost recreational opportunity (beach going & surfing) was valued at $18 million.

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