Coastal Commission to Consider Support of Bid for Designation of World Surfing Reserves

• Local Waters Are Among Nine U.S. Surf Breaks on the List

BY BILL KOENEKER

The California Coastal Commission is expected to approve a resolution at its meeting this month, supporting the designation of world surfing reserves. Malibu is included as one of the nine surf breaks in the United States nominated for the designation, according to a commission staff report.

The proposed resolution was brought to the attention of the coastal agency by Save the Waves, a group of surfers, scientists and activists, who are urging that the unique surf spots of the world need added protection.

The Coastal Commission’s interest is two-fold, with an emphasis on how man-made structures such as groins, jetties, breakwaters, seawalls, harbors and artificial reefs, can change or destroy surf breaks.

The commission’s staff report details the agency’s own experience in permitting a structure that destroyed a surf break in El Segundo.

Citing historical documents, the coastal agency report notes how  surf breaks were obliterated in other parts of Southern California, including in Orange County, a break known as Stanley’s Diner.

Another surfing spot, described as one of the most memorable breaks that vanished, was Killer Dana that was destroyed after the construction of Dana Point Harbor.

Surfers and other activists at the grassroots level are calling for action to protect local surf breaks for future generations.

Save the Waves has maintained a list of surf breaks around the world that are threatened by potential development.

The surf reserves are loosely based on the same concept as World Heritage Sites. Australia already has a similar program called Australian National Surfing Reserves.

Currently, the WSRs have no legal mandates or international recognition or government protection and are still described as “paper parks.”

However, Save the Waves envisions the WSRs one day having formal legal protection. The group partnered with the International Surfing Association and its affiliated National Governing Bodies to solicit nominations. The 2009 nomination process closed on Sept. 30 after 124 entries had been received.

The CCC report indicates the commission’s approval of the resolution supporting WSRs “will demonstrate support for the concept that surf breaks are a valuable natural resource in the state that must be protected consistent with the Coastal Act.”

Currently, the Coastal Act requires that coastal areas suited for water-oriented recreational activities that cannot readily be provided at inland waters areas, such as surfing, should be protected and that lower cost visitor-serving recreational facilities, such as a surf break, should be protected, according to the commission staff report.

The WSR designations may function to assist the commission in future decision-making relative to the protection of unique wave rider places along the California coast, the CCC staff report suggests.