A massive harbor expansion is currently underway in the Port of Gijon, in the Asturias region of Northern Spain. The project will expand the size of what is already one of the largest ports in Cantabria, nearly tripling its size. The new seawall will project far out into the Bay, where it will effectively block the entire swell window for at least eight high-quality surf spots, including el Mongol and Peñarubia. For more information about all of the surf spots that will be effected, visit wannasurf.com.

The Asturian Government proposed enlarging the port in 1999 in the hope that it could become one of the Atlantic’s most important shipping centers. The area exports large amounts of natural resources such as coal, iron, and other minerals. Fernando Menéndez Rexach, President of the Port of Gijón, believes that the port’s enlargement will allow Gijón to become a economic leader in this region of Spain. “The goal is to position the port of Gijón to accommodate the highest possible cargo volume and the best economic output,” said Menéndez. But unlike Menéndez, many local citizens believe that the proposed port is unnecessarily large, and will ruin the beautiful vistas of the sea and the beaches that are famous for drawing thousands of tourists each summer season. The construction began in January of 2005 and will be finished sometime in 2006.

The multi-million Euro project is being funded by the European Union (EU), the same source of development funds responsible for the demise of two waves in Madeira, Portugal, over the last few years. “Because the money comes from the EU, the port is being enlarged to a ridiculous and unnecessary size,” claims Alex Sierra. The problem is not a new one. Many places in Europe are experiencing similar dilemmas, where new EU-funded projects far exceed the size that is necessary for the benefit or health of neighboring communities.

“The problem is that the money is coming from Brussels, and not from the country’s own tax base,” says Save the Waves president Will Henry. “It’s in the best interest of these politicians to make the projects as big as possible. But the costs to the environment and to the communities around these mega-projects is astronomical.”

Save The Waves is seeking legal support to protect the rights of surfers and ocean enthusiasts in the EU, who are increasingly on the losing end of the battle to preserve their natural coastal treasures. We are attempting to mount a legal challenge to the EU’s poor environmental stewardship and argue for mitigation to replace the waves that have been damaged or destroyed. If you are an attorney in the any of the affected countries and want to help, please contact us.