SURFRIDER FOUNDATION EUROPE
Help us to keep the ocean clean
OUR MISSION: the protection and the sustainable management of the coastline
Surfrider Foundation Europe is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection, the preservation, the enhancement and the sustainable management of the ocean, the coasts, the waves and the people who enjoy its use.
When the organization was first founded, the coastline originally dedicated to leisure, was chosen as a reference. But today our action is applying to all water sports areas: beaches but also lakes and rivers.
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Originally, surfers…
Created in 1990 in Europe (Biarritz) by a few surfers including 3rd time world champion Tom Curren, Surfrider Foundation Europe gathers today 1 000 volunteers, 3 500 members, about 40 local chapters and more than 12 000 supporters all around Europe.
Surfrider Foundation Europe is a global network with regional organizations and local chapters spread out on every continent (USA, Europe, Japan, Australia, Latin America…).
The organization was born in 1984 in Malibu, California, where surfers wanted to protect their surf spots from local pollution.
Today, an Ocean community in the broadest sense
Surfrider Foundation Europe brings together, among its members, people coming from all horizons, with a common passion: the ocean and a care for the protection of the coastline.
No matter how you enjoy the coastline (sports, bathing or simply taking a walk), if you feel the need to act on saving our coastline heritage, you will fit right in if you join Surfrider Foundation Europe.
A double French agreement: Protection of the environment and education
We run several programs on the environment, its enhancement and its protection, but also educational programs to increase both public and academic awareness:
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Environmental programs: To save the environment, leisure and health
· To improve the quality of bathing waters: laboratory tests and annual simulation of Directive 2006/7/CE concerning the quality of bathing water in Europe.
· To fight against macro waste at sea and on the beaches: quantification and research work
· To fight against pollutions generated by maritime transport: research work and legal actions against polluting agents.
· To limit the impact of coastline changes: Keepers of the Coast files (a volunteer network to alert and act on the coastlines’ problems)
· National and European lobbying actions, constant monitoring on the relevance and the enforcement of laws
Educational programs and awareness campaigns: To change behaviors
· Educational tools: touring exhibitions, educational kits, training for teachers, youth workers and kids.
· Ocean Initiatives: beaches, lakes and rivers clean-ups gathering each year more than 20.000 people.
· Raising awareness through sporting, cultural and professional events
· Partnerships: assisting companies and institutions through their sustainable development process.
For more information, please visit www.surfrider.eu and www.initiativesoceanes.org.
