Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is delighted to announce that after its crucial intervention with E.ON, the Rampion offshore wind farm developers, potentially catastrophic damage to local surfing waves has now been averted.
E.ON initially identified a potential reduction in wave height of up to 22% for surfing beaches in and around Brighton as a result of the planned renewable energy development. This would have been a major blow to the substantial local surf community and important related economy. However, thanks to vital discussions between SAS, E.ON and leading local surfers and surfing-related businesses, the developers have reassessed their plans to minimise... Read more
Marine Planning, The Journey Starts Here
What is marine planning? We see it as a fantastic opportunity to get surf and water sports areas recognised, designated and protected for generations to come.
Marine planning in its simplest form will be a marine version of our land based planning systems. Sounds obvious don’t it. But it might surprise you to learn the marine environment is nautical miles behind the land based planning systems. But the good news is, SAS is involved from the very start. The newly formed Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for developing marine plans for the entire UK waters.... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) re-enacted the iconic Kitchener recruitment poster to enlist surfers, waveriders and coastal users into the Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) new Marine Planning programme. Our surfing Kitchener stood on the frontline for SAS at the first Marine Planning workshop on the 12th of January in Peterborough.
The workshops will produce a statement of public participation (SPP), outlining exactly how and when surfers, waveriders and coastal users can best engage with the Marine Planning process. Once the mechanisms and methods for engagement are in place SAS will be recruiting the entire coastal community at the key... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) warn the water industry there’s more to be concerned about than celebrate. Today Defra will release the 2010 bathing season results for the UK and both water companies and Government agencies will be quick to boast about an increase in beaches attaining the guideline standards. Whilst trying their hardest to divert attention away from 16 beaches failing the 34 year old, inadequate and outdated water quality standards and a reduction in beaches failing to attain the bare minimum mandatory standards.
SAS are urging the water industry not to believe their own press. Their achievements... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) were on hand to greet delegates at the 4th European Water and Wastewater Management Conference in Leeds, with direct reminders that turning Ultra Violet (UV) sewage treatment systems off outside the bathing season dramatically increases the health risk to surfers and waveriders. The surfers, in wetsuits and carrying surfboards emblazoned with illuminous “UV” letters handed out cards reminding the delegates of their obligations to protect water users all year round.
After a successful campaign against Northumbrian Water in 2008 SAS have helped set a precedent. Where there is a presence of water users, year... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are calling for 34 British beaches to be stripped of their Blue Flag status. SAS have uncovered information revealing these beaches can not meet the strict standards requiring public warnings after sewage discharges set by the international body responsible for the Blue Flag programme. SAS flew their Brown Flag at Whitburn beach in the North East. Whitburn has a Blue Flag but yet the European Commission (EC) is taking the UK to the European Court of Justice for "too frequent" and "excessive" spills from storm water overflows at Whitburn.
English Blue Flags not meeting the... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) landed on Fistral beach in Newquay with 2 tanks and smoking flares to mark the release their ground breaking WAR Report. The WAR report clearly highlights why Waves Are Resources and, as such, should be recognised as valuable assets, protected for this and future generations. The WAR Report not only focuses on the intrinsic value of waves to surfers but also the economic value to the wider community. Today is also the first day of the Relentless Boardmasters, the UK’s largest surfing competition. The Boardmasters is obviously solely dependent on the waves and the event bring £1,700,000 into... Read more
To mark World Ocean Day, clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are highlighting the ‘Dirty Dozen’ of identifiable beach litter items to help tackle the blight of rubbish on UK beaches. SAS is releasing the ‘Dirty Dozen’ league table, revealing the 12 companies to which it has sent the most identifiable beach litter back to as part of the award winning Return To Offender campaign.
The Return To Offender campaign is one of SAS’s most successful marine litter campaigns to date. Launched in 2006, SAS has sent almost 600 items of identifiable marine litter back to the companies producing them.... Read more
'SAS lobbies all candidates for cleaner seas in the run up to the general election'
Today SAS have sent our Clean Seas And Coastal Protection Manifesto out to all candidates standing in the general election. We are also calling on all surfers, waveriders and water users to send a copy of our manifesto to your local candidates asking for their commitment to clean seas for the UK.
Last year 11.6 million UK adults participated in water sports and water based leisure activities at the UK's coastline, helping to highlight just how popular the coast has now become as a place to pursue... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are extremely disappointed with the Planning Inspector's weak ruling, requiring water companies to make only minor improvements to their 4,000 unregulated Combine Sewer Overflows (CSOs). These minor improvements fall far short of what is needed to protect and improve the environment and SAS feel this has been an opportunity lost.
SAS supported the Environment Agency's proposed conditions, which didn't require excessive investment. Yet incredible, after 20 years of leniency, rather than embrace the decision with good grace the water companies involved appealed against 94% of the discharge consents! The appeal was brought before the... Read more
