Concern about marine pollution and conservation is growing amongst UK surfers, a recent online aimed at the surfing public has shown. The survey aimed to find out if those who enjoy surfing as a leisure pursuit are concerned about the marine environment and conservation issues. It was commissioned in January 2013 by Sea-Changers in collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage, and was completed by 300 surfers.
The key headlines from the survey were:
Over three quarters of surfers (77%) describe themselves as ‘very concerned’ about marine conservation issues.
94% of surfers believe that pollution from sewage outlets to be a serious problem.
ACTION: This Valentine’s day, why not shun Hallmark’s commercial demands and simply send your significant other, flirtatious friends and even your bromance one of our free Protect Our Waves petition Valentine E-cards remainders.
We’ve got POW Valentine messages ranging from the outrageously risqué, to sickly sweet. Be proud to help protect the waves we all love.
ACTION: Download these fun POW Valentine’s images (copy, save and share far and wide.)
ACTION: Tag, tweet and email your female (and/or male) across Facebook, twitter and your address book.
ACTION: Remember to make sure you’ve signed Protect Our Waves petition (www.protectourwaves.org.uk ).
Recent POW activity:
RAMPION: We were... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is calling on communities in North Cornwall to submit opinions on a massive and potentially devastating coastal dredging proposal. Marine Minerals Limited are applying for a licence to remove millions of tonnes of sediment from North Cornwall’s sea bed as little as 200 meters offshore at some of Cornwall’s premier beaches, including; St Ives Bay, Porthtowan, St Agnes & Perranporth.
If you have any concerns about this proposal, please register them with the Marine Management Organisation by Friday, 8th February. Marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk
SAS first raised concerns about this issue when the new Protect Our Waves petition was launched in... Read more
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
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
Poole Harbour Commissioners are proposing several new developments for the harbour, including a 950 berth marina together with a cruise liner berth. This proposed development could be sited 200 metres off the beach at Hamworthy Park. This would have a devastating impact for windsurfers, kitesurfers and dingy sailors in the area. The development would cut across the first tack these waveriders would need to take when launching from the Hamworthy Park area and effectively prevent windsurfing in particular from the beach in the normal SW/S prevailing winds.
SAS supporters can lodge your opposition to this inappropriate development here: Read more
Where did the last 12 months go? Looking back, 2011 has been great for SAS, thanks mainly to the passion and power from our supporters. The successes and achievements detailed in this round belong to you all. And as Campaign Director I’d like to say a massive thank you for the help. The team take you all with us to every meeting with Ministers, whenever we challenge polluting industries and when we are on the beaches physically making it better!
SEWAGE
Since going live in May our Sewage Alert Service has sent almost 80,000 text alerts, warning you when raw sewage has... Read more
Surfers Save Challaborough
Today we are stoked to announce a resounding Protect Our Waves victory to safeguard the surfing waves of Challaborough, Devon. Today the Planning Inspectorate could have been deciding the future of the waves at Challaborough. However, we contested the proposal to dump rock armoury on Challaborough beach, mobilised the local surfing community and ensured their concerns over this inappropriate coastal defence scheme were heard just in time.
Over a thousand local surfers, waveriders and beach users signed our Protect Our Waves (POW) petition to the Planning Inspectorate opposing the dumping of rock armoury on the beach as this... Read more
Challaborough, one of the south coast’s premier waves is under threat from an ill-chosen near shore development and we urgently need your help to protect this quality wave!
There is currently an application to dump a substantial amount of rock armoury on the foreshore. However, an independent survey carried out by Halcrow predicted any erosion at this site to be negligible over the next 100 years. Unfortunately, dumping all this rock armoury could have a devastating impact on the waves at Challaborough.
The first application for the rock armoury was rejected; however, the developers are now appealing to the planning inspectorate. This... Read more
We currently have several live Protect Our Waves campaigns that we urgently need your support on. Spanning access issues, coastal development issues and pollution issues affecting some of the UK's best waves, we need YOU to add your voice to the growing wave of support to protect surf spots nationwide. Adding your support is vital to the campaign to protect waves and the UK’s coastline from the ever-increasing myriad of... Read more
Although the Protect Our Waves (POW) campaign was only launched in 2009, we’ve been protecting waves from one threat or another since our conception 21 years ago. But the Protect Our Waves campaign gives us the structure to legitimately expand our remit, concentrating on wave protection like never before.
Using our years of experience the POW campaign identified the most potent and widespread threats to waves around the UK. These include threats from over zealous onshore and offshore developments, surfers and waveriders right of access and of course, environmental impacts.
Since 2009 the POW campaign has been incredible active and has already... Read more
