Surfrider supports Operation Crayweed
By Sarah Forest, a French student interning with Surfrider South Coast Last month the Surfrider South Coast Crew went to Bondi to support Operation Crayweed whose mission is to restore Sydney’s underwater forests. Crayweed started to disappear...
By Sarah Forest, a French student interning with Surfrider South Coast
Last month the Surfrider South Coast Crew went to Bondi to support Operation Crayweed whose mission is to restore Sydney’s underwater forests.
Crayweed started to disappear from Sydney’s beaches in the 80s due to the sewerage that was pumped onto our beaches back then. This is where the original crew from Surfrider Foundation stepped up and started their famous ‘poo’ marches; our first volunteers campaigned to the various State Governments to treat and take the sewerage further out to sea.
Luckily for us, there is lots of crayweed to the north and south of Sydney’s beaches, so our Illawarra waters have an abundance of crayweed thriving on our rock platforms.
Crayweed sequesters carbon, provides a healthy habitat for marine life and is vital to keep our marine ecosystems healthy. Volunteers learned how to differentiate between male and female crayweed, so they can be planted together to repopulate the seabed and regenerate Sydney’s beaches. The girl crays have lovely lump patterns, and the boy crays have sausage-like patterns. Easy!
Sustainable science of surfing
In October we were invited to meet Professor Marc in het Panhuis in his laboratory at the Innovation campus of UOW. His Surf Flex Lab team focuses on making surfing a science by researching and testing sustainable materials for high-performance surf equipment.
The Surf Flex Lab is the foremost laboratory in the world in the field of surf engineering. By bringing together experts from the fields of surfing and science, Marc is developing cutting-edge research to create a sustainable surfing future.
To support the Surf Flex lab and their important projects involving high performance and sustainable watercraft, please donate here: www.uow.edu.au/giving/donate-now/surf-flex-lab/
Shaping the future
Our branch was invited to make a submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water regarding solutions for the International Treaty on Plastic Pollution. It was an honour to be in the cohort of many highly respected Australian scientists who were asked to voice their opinions on how we can shape our global future.
Ocean Care Day with the Disabled Surfers Association
Join us as we celebrate Ocean Care Day on Saturday, December 3 at Thirroul beach when we team up with the Disabled Surfers Association (DSA) South Coast.
Surfrider Foundation loves to share the stoke of surfing with people of all abilities and we are a keen supporter of DSA South Coast. The DSA initiative is a fun community event that builds self-confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance for people of all abilities.
During the morning, the Surfrider Foundation will be hosting a beach clean, so we would love you to join us. Bring your swimmers if you want to help out in the water, but if you prefer to stay dry you can assist on the beach.
I guarantee this will be one of the most rewarding days you will ever spend. Please come and get involved and we look forward to seeing you at Thirroul to put smiles on faces and get our beach sparkly clean!
