World Surfing Reserves
Protecting outstanding surf breaks around the world.
World Surfing Reserves serves as a model standard for preserving wave breaks and their surrounding areas by recognizing and protecting key environmental, cultural and economic attributes in coastal communities.
Save The Waves’ flagship program proactively identifies, designates and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones and their surrounding environments around the world. WSRs represent a global network of designated surfing reserves that are managed, implemented, and protected by local communities.
What is the World Surfing Reserves program?
The World Surfing Reserves (WSR) program proactively identifies, designates and preserves outstanding waves, surf zones and their surrounding environments around the world.
Although the program is managed and administered by Save The Waves Coalition, WSRs represent a global network of designated surfing reserves that are managed, implemented, and protected by the local community.
World Surfing Reserves provide a platform and stakeholder engagement mechanism to pursue projects that protect the surf, community and environment.
Recent news on WSRs
Voices of San Miguel: What It Means to Preserve the Birthplace of Mexican Surfing
With every iconic surf break, there’s history and community. By protecting these waves, we’re protecting everything they stand for.
San Miguel surf break protected with landmark creation of Baja California’s first state park
In a historic moment, the first state park in Baja California, Mexico was officially approved, providing long-lasting protection for the iconic San Miguel wave alongside 67 hectares of green space
Kona Brewing teams up with Save The Waves on the Catch a Clean Wave campaign
On Sunday, Save The Waves hosted a beach cleanup in the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve with Kona Brewing for their #CatchACleanWave tour.
Reducing Ocean Pollution Together: Introducing “The Plastic Wave” by Ethan Estess
We’re proud to present “The Plastic Wave” – a seven-foot wave sculpture created by Ethan Estess out of 1,000 plastic phone cases made with our partners at Pela Case.
Created in partnership with local communities.
We work collaboratively with local coalition partners at each site guiding them through a conservation planning process that results in the creation of a Local Stewardship Council (LSC) and a Reserve Stewardship Plan. The LSC is responsible for the ongoing management of the Reserve once established.
Current World Surfing Reserves
We have designated 10 WSR sites to date operating under LSC management in: California, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Portugal and Australia.
Applying to Become a WSR
Submission window: April 8th to October 15th, 2021
Each year, Save The Waves accepts one new World Surfing Reserve. The application process requires significant work from local communities and their inquiry is based on the following core criteria:
1) Quality and consistency of the wave(s);
2) Important environmental characteristics;
3) Culture and surf history;
4) Governance capacity and local support;
5) Priority Conservation Area
Applying to Become a WSR
Submission window: April 8th to October 15th, 2021
Each year, Save The Waves accepts one new World Surfing Reserve. The application process requires significant work from local communities and their inquiry is based on the following core criteria:
1) Quality and consistency of the wave(s);
2) Important environmental characteristics;
3) Culture and surf history;
4) Governance capacity and local support;
5) Priority Conservation Area