How Surfing can Benefit our Ocean this ‘World Oceans Day’
Words: Lily Jacobsen
This year's theme for World Oceans Day 2023 is: “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing”. World Ocean Day is focused on raising awareness about the health of our marine ecosystems while trying to get the public involved in their cause.
As a surfer, you live and breathe in the ocean. It's what allows you to drop in, feel alive, and make you say “This shore hits the spot!”. However, as a surfer what can you do this World Oceans Day to make a change?
The ocean is a tool to put you at ease. In the water, your brain waves put you into a minor maladaptive state. This is what promotes calmness and inspiration, which is also caused by the rich blue colour of the ocean. The negative ions created by the ocean are what create this blissful trance. Every time you breathe they work their magic by slowing down your brain and causing you to relax. Even the ocean's smell has been proven to soothe you. These are the key ingredients to helping you gain mindfulness and resilience. Those tasks that are stressful won't feel as bad anymore. Wouldn't you want to protect something as powerful as that?
In 2014, Peru was the first country to preserve a popular surfing spot called Lobitos from pollution exploitation. They understood how surfing can impact the marine environment, both physically and financially. The Save The Waves Coalition has created the concept of ‘surfonomics’. It is essentially using research to encourage governing parties to preserve popular surfing locations. They will usually gather data about how large tourism is in that area to demonstrate how a cleaner surfing space will give back to the local town economically. These conversations about marine protection boosted Lobitos Peru’s tourism industry by $24m.
However, what are the ecological benefits of protecting these spaces? The quality of the sea floor determines the shape of the wave. This ultimately determines how well the conditions are for surfing. Not only does this benefit the surfing community as it provides them with perfect waves, but also for the tourism industries surrounding them. When there's a will, there's a wave.
Ways you can help the ocean:
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen. The common ingredients in normal sunscreen have been shown to bleach coral which causes coral to have low function levels causing them to fall ill.
- Limit taking plastics to the beach. Bring reusable coffee cups to the beach. Also maybe it's time to skip out on bringing plastic bags along with you too.
- Purchase sustainable seafood. To make it better, bring a reusable bag to pick up these goods!
- What you bring with you to the beach, you take home with you. The less you leave behind the less of a chance that it will make its way into our ocean.
- Volunteer at your local or favourite beach for clean-ups.
So what can you do to help this World Oceans Day? Get your gloves and start to search for all the rubbish scattered on your favourite beach. You might be surprised at how much you find! Even if it's just one plastic drink bottle you pick up, it might save a life. Now say “We run this beach!” and protect what makes you happy.