Seminar 3 Worldwide Strategies to Protect Waves

Brad Farmer & Prof. Andrew Short OAM

Global Wave Conference 2011

Very well globally organised

20 years of advocacy in 15 mins – a ‘snapshot’ only 1,000’s of people involved – millions witnessed

New and successful realisation method of wave protection

A surfer is … 'anyone whointeracts in the surf zone for recreation’

‘SHORT & FARMER 2007’

Everyone is a ‘surfer’Not to be perceived as a ‘fringe’ group

for maximum political, economic and social leverage

A ‘National Surfing Reserve’ is …a declared

‘iconic’ (sacred) surfing siteeither in legislation or symbolically

NSR began in Australia : 1973-1993-2004Australia is just 1 BIG beach

AUSTRALIA 100 years of surfing history

SLSA 1902, Duke 1914

10,685 beaches

About NSR …

1. Non profit2. Run by volunteers3. No corporate funding4. No membership5. Some government funding6. 99% successful in Australia – K.I.S.S. method7. Same level of protection as a ‘National Park or Marine

Reserve’8. NSR is the model for ‘WSR’9. NSR seed partner to ‘World Surfing Reserves’ 10. Engaged global planning and execution

‘NSR (& WSR) Global Ambassador’ Kelly Slater

Bondi Beach, March 2010

The beginnings of NSR 1991 >

NSR: Setting global and national standards …

It is the first time in any nation that …

Surfing has been recognised in parliamentary legislation (law) to give surfers ‘primacy’ & enact powers to protect wave environments

• Australia : NSW Crown Lands Act (1989)

• Hawaii : Executive Order : SB 2646• New Zealand : Coastal Policy CPS (19)• USA – Latin and South America• EU ?

Why declare ‘iconic’ surf sites 1. To raise awareness : to formally recognise surf, surfers &

surf culture at a ‘iconic’ site 2. To record surf history of the site (booklet)3. To proactively protect and preserve sites4. To discourage threats : ‘early’ 5. To empower and galvanise communities 6. To claim a form of sovereignty by ‘surfers’7. To create a legislative basis for the future8. To educate and include : governments, media, industry and

surfers – public awareness of sites / surfers

What is a NSR …

• A coastal surf zone declared by boundaries and law• A national statement recognising the intrinsic heritage,

culture, environment, sporting and social values• A voice for surfers and community• A vehicle for engagement, education and activism

How we do it in Australia …1. Identify and declare ‘iconic’ sites 2. Gradually establish local NSR local groups, assisted by a national body3. Must have full support of local surfing community & preferably wider

community (bottom-up approach)4. Engage all stakeholders .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Two NSR each year have been ‘declared’ since 2005 Now 11 NSR in Australia – 5 more in 2012

By 2015, completed 25 NSR in Australia Presently, encouraging other nations to create their own NSR

(Hawaii, NZ, Indonesia, EU, Fiji etc)

NSR / WSR Next : RSR (Regional Surfing Reserves)

REGIONAL VISION

AUSTRALIA : 11 / 17 / 25 NSR

NSR the future …1. Any surfing nation can start a NSR 2. A NSR National Executive & NSR Local Steering

Committees (LSC) - plus possibly govt assistance3. The base NSR model is available to all nations4. The model will vary according to nation5. Assistance is available (NSR Australia)6. NSR will be in 5 nations by 20157. NSR will collaborate with WSR in twocomplimentary ‘protection’ methods8. Ministry for Coasts – Council of Aust Govts (COAG)

NEW ZEALAND

SRI LANKA

SOUTH AFRICA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

INDONESIA

FIJI

HAWAII ‘SURFING RESERVES’ (2 in 2010)

Lennox Head NSR 400 sq H – 7.2 kms of surfing coastline

- Sovereignty - (Surfers’ Sovereignty)

‘Territorial Integrity’• n. pl. sov·er·eign·ties 1. Supremacy of

authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state.

• 2. Royal rank, authority, or power.• 3. Complete independence and self-

government.• 4. A territory existing as an independent state.

Worlds’ First

‘Indigenous’ Surfing Reserve NSW, Australia, 2012

Black Rock (Indig.) NSR with Aboriginal Elders Council, Aboriginal Surfers, Commonwealth and State governments

40, 000 years of connection with ocean

Endurance and persistence

• Many years in the making (20/30 +)• 1,000’s of volunteer hours• A commitment to excellence &

K.I.S.S.

NSR Honourary Executive 2005 -2011

Working together with stakeholders

Govt, Indigenous, BusinessFar North WA, Red Bluff, Gnarloo

Extensive / comprehensive stakeholder engagement in remote regions

Gold Coast NSR = 4 southern point breaks 20 years in advocacy – NSR Feb 24, 2011

Manly-Freshwater Beach ‘Birthplace of Australian Surfing’

… goes from a NSR in 2010 to a WSR in 2012

Manly – Freshwater - AUSTRALIA both a National & World Surfing Reserve 2010/2012

Unique Status

Desired Outcome1. The spread of NSR worldwide2. Consider the seeding of an umbrella coalition of this GWC

group gathered; toward development of strategic (UNESCO targeted) objectives

working concept title could be a …

‘INTERNATIONAL COASTAL COMMUNITIES

COMMISSION’

FORMED AT GWC - OCT 25, 2011

THANKS

Gracias - Merci

www.surfingreserves.org