Save The Waves staff recently traveled to Ericeira, Portugal to check in on the progress and challenges at Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve. The local Municipality of Mafra hosted a group of surfers, businesses, and environmental NGOs to tackle some of the ongoing issues in the Reserve and set concrete goals to address the issues and protect the coast legally.
Groups in attendance included Salvem Os Surf, Ericeira Surf Club, Quiksilver Europe and Friends of Coxos. Portuguese pro surfer, Save The Waves Ambassador, and local hero Tiago Pires came down the from the World tour event in Peniche to attend. Also in attendance was Portuguese Big Wave Surfer and Save The Waves Ambassador, Joao de Macedo.
“It was amazing to see all of the groups back and working together. If we get this next step right, Ericeira will be the gold standard for all other World Surfing Reserves, said Save The Waves’ Nik Strong-Cvetich.”
The group decided to update the WSR stewardship plan to tackle water quality and development issues within the Reserve, as well as pursue legal options to both acquire key coastal lands and create a national designation to protect the beach and marine environment.
For more information of World Surfing Reserves, please visit www.worldsurfingreserves.org