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Montauk

What Does It Take To Save Montauk?

Photo: Mike Nelson / @fullnelson_photo

The end of Eastern Long Island is made up of state parks and preserved land that is dotted with world-class surf breaks that have a unique ability to focus larger, longer-period swells into powerful and long rides for experienced surfers.

Although surfing's legal status remains protected, Montauk is struggling with the coastal impacts of climate change and sea level rise.

The "Montauk 8"

Local surf fishermen have power in numbers, a strong legacy on Long Island's East End, and leaned on lawmakers to prohibit surfing, which they considered detrimental to surfcasting. In 2007, eight surfers — dubbed the “Montauk 8” — were ticketed while surfing within Montauk Point State Park.

Surfing Is Not a Crime

From 2002 to 2004, Surfrider activist and attorney Joe Giannini, along with the Surfrider Foundation's Eastern Long Island Chapter's co-chair Tom Naro, successfully fought to open Camp Hero State Park to surfing. Giannini then took up the case of the “Montauk 8,” and in 2008 won legal protections for surfing in Montauk Point State Park, and all oceanfront parks in the State.

A set of waves stacks up and breaks as surfers paddle out in Montauk.Photo: Mike Nelson / @fullnelson_photo

Today, although surfing's legal status remains protected, Montauk is struggling with a number of issues related to the coastal impacts of climate change and sea level rise, including beach erosion and water quality issues. Surfrider agrees with the Town of East Hampton's Coastal Assessment Resilience Plan (CARP) Committee's recommended strategies, especially managed retreat, and encourages their implementation.

To quote directly from the committee's Spring 2022 letter, "The clock is ticking, the sea is rising, and our work is just beginning." 

After witnessing the degradation of beaches and wave quality caused by geobags and rock revetments, the time has come to work together smartly to ensure the future of Montauk's beaches by implementing nature-based solutions.