SURF PROTECTED AREAS NETWORKS
Surf Protected Areas: Legally protecting surf ecosystems that overlap with biodiversity hotspots.
The Surf Protected Area Network (SPAN) program is a new approach for marine and coastal conservation that combines the legal protection of ecosystems with sustainable community development.
Save The Waves implements this program across the globe on a national level in Costa Rica, The Azores, Mexico and Chile in coalition with local partners.
Our Project Areas
With our pilot project launched in Morotai of Indonesia, we are focusing additional efforts in Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico.
Program Highlight:
THE AZORES, PORTUGAL
Save The Waves launched a new initiative for creating SPANs in the Azores through the Blue Azores program with Waitt Foundation.
Program Victory:
PIEDRA DEL VIENTO, CHILE
RECENT NEWS ON SPANS
On the Ground Update: Two Major Wins for Surf Ecosystem Protection in Mexico
Port expansion within the Bahía de Todos Santos World Surfing Reserve blocked and Oaxaca Working Group for the Protection of Waves and Surf Breaks created.
Big Step Forward in the Azores: First “Municipal Surf Ecosystem Reserve” on Graciosa Island
The first Municipal Surf Ecosystem Reserve on Graciosa Island, Azores has been approved. This recognition constitutes a strategic measure for the protection and integrated management of the island’s surf breaks and natural resources.
New Global Guide Sets Best Practices for Protecting Surf Ecosystems
Three leading conservation organizations — Save The Waves Coalition, the Peruvian Society for Environmental Law (SPDA), and Conservation International — have released the “Guide of Best Practices for Surf Ecosystem Conservation,” the most comprehensive global resource of its kind, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
UNOC 2025: Lessons and Takeaways
CEO Notes from the Field: United Nations Ocean Conference, Nice, 2025. The vibe, our takeaways, lessons learned key events and what’s next.
What are 'Surf Protected Areas'? How do they work?
We break down what it means to legally protect a surf break and the comprehensive strategies used by communities worldwide to preserve their surfing resources.
The outline and analysis below is a Coalition collaboration with Save The Waves, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SPDA) and Conservamos For Naturaleza.
Using Surf Conservation for Biodiversity Protection
Across the globe, there are thousands of areas where world class surfing waves and globally important marine biological diversity overlap where threats are prevalent.
Save The Waves recently conducted a study showing that ~90% of the world’s top surf sites are located in global biodiversity hotspots for marine conservation and are ripe for new protected areas. The map below shows 50 globally important surfing areas overlaid with biodiversity hotspots.
Click on map to enlarge.
Our
Priority
Regions
- Mexico
- Chile
- Indonesia
- Costa Rica
- Azores
- Fiji
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- California / Hawaii
Coalition Partner Highlight:
Conservation International
Save The Waves has teamed up with Conservation International! Together, our organizations have the necessary and combined forces to have a global impact for coastal conservation. Our projects in SPANs includes regions in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Brazil.
The Surf Conservation Partnership
Save The Waves has teamed up with international NGO Conservation International. Together, our organizations have the necessary and combined forces to have a global impact for coastal conservation. Our SPANs includes regions in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Brazil.
Resources
Explore and browse our completed studies around surf breaks and surf protected areas.
The Azores:
Surf Conservation Index
Help us push the boundaries of conservation.
Donate today and make a global impact for our coastlines.
Our SPANs Partners.
