Stoked to protect Washington's ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people!
Summer Swell
Holy July, mobular bat ray! There we were, just recovering from Earth Month, and BAM! Suddenly the year's half over. But enough of time travel. We've been busy this summer and there's lots to catch up on, from the literal dumpster fires of the July 5th cleanup to a slew of ocean protection updates, events, victories, and action alerts! So grab a cold beverage, slap on some reef-safe sunscreen, and prepare to bask in the warm glow of our amazing volunteers crushing it this summer season. Stay cool, comrades 😎
~ Liz Schotman, Washington Regional Manager
Pete Steelquist, Washington Policy Manager
The Morning After the Mess
Photo credit: Kelly Jones
As many of you are probably familiar, July 5th is known as the Dirtiest Day on The Beach. Nowhere is that more true than on the outer coast of Washington. This year, volunteers removed over 130,000 pounds, or 65 tons, of smoldering trash from our beaches, the vast majority of which was left behind by people celebrating on July 4th. To read more about this epic effort, check out our latest blog post.
For most of us, talk of budgets and funding mechanisms puts us on the fast track to snooze land. But the reality is that money is often the limiting factor when it comes to conservation outcomes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plays a crucial role in protecting Washington’s marine resources, but many of its essential programs are at risk of drastic cuts to their funding. Dive into our latest blog to learn how a well-funded NOAA directly benefits Washingtonians and ways you can take action.
A Suite of Seabed Mining Bans Safeguarding our Waters
Hawaii has become the most recent state to join the hot trend of banning seabed mining! With this latest coastal victory, state waters throughout the entire West Coast and Hawaii, encompassing over 26,000 square miles of coastal ecosystems, are spared from the damaging extractive practice of seabed mining. This is coming just a few years off our own effort to ban seabed mining in Washington. State bans, while important, are just the tip of the iceberg, or the shiny chrome veneer if you will. The vast majority of deep sea minerals are far offshore, in federal and international waters. Check out the blog post below to learn a few simple things you can do to take action!
It’s silent. Invisible. Often overlooked. But ocean acidification (OA) has profound impacts on our marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and regional economies. Here in Washington, our waters are acidifying faster than the global average due to upwelling and other oceanographic conditions off our coast, in addition to climate change. Luckily, we also have numerous agencies and institutions, industry experts and Tribes, academics and activists, all working together to collect data, model changes, and collaborate on ways to manage this threat. Every other year, we all gather during the Ocean Acidification Sentinal Site (OASeS) Symposium to share new research and brainstorm ways to deal with this growing threat. Check out our latest blog highlighting this important event.
Stoked to see one of our amazing Washington volunteers highlighted on a national stage! Kelly has been the volunteer coordinator for the South Sound Chapter, lending her photography skills and technological know-how to manage the chapter's social media and website. She's also been fundamental in helping to get the new Grays Harbor Chapter up and running, and participated in our Coastal Recreation Hill Days, advocating for clean water and healthy beaches at the federal level. Her boundless passion for the ocean is contagious, and we're grateful for everything she's done and stoked for everything she will continue to accomplish!
As the urgency to combat climate change intensifies, the Pacific Northwest and California are emerging as pivotal regions in the United States' renewable energy landscape. With their abundant wind resources and progressive environmental policies, Washington State, Oregon, and California are now considering ambitious projects to harness wind power from the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean through floating offshore wind farms. But are there hidden costs that may impact our oceans, shorelines, and communities? Check out our latest post to learn more!
Reports from the Field: Surfrider Canada Conference
I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of attending Surfrider Canada’s annual leadership conference this May in the coastal city of Vancouver, BC. The event was a vibrant convergence of passionate environmental advocates and a powerful testament to the collective effort and diverse voices driving the mission forward. From topics ranging from Indigenous allyship, to student clubs leading network expansion from coast to coast, to the growth of Ocean Friendly Businesses and other important programs, I left feeling stoked and inspired!
Our annual membership drive is upon us! During this annual event, chapters across the country compete with each other to see who can sign up the most members, with cash-money prizes for those in the top three. So consider making a small donation to support your chapter and help them compete! Last year Washington chapters swept Division 2 - can we beat Oregon and California again this year?! To sign up or renew your membership, head to your chapter’s website (link below) and click the donate button on the top right. To learn more about how your donation supports our mission on the ground, check out our latest blog post about why your memberships matter!
