The Break Line Between Surf and Sustainability

July 3, 2025

By Jina Song, 2025 Future Blue Youth Council member

Cover photo source: San Diego Surf School

No matter which coast you’re heading to—Bali or Oahu, California or Nazaré—surfing is a thrill many return to again and again. Sure, it comes with risks: rogue waves, rebellious surfboards, and the occasional shark photobomb. But during a recent trip to Yangyang, South Korea, I realized there’s a bigger wipeout looming. The coast itself—those waves, reefs, and sands we rely on—is under pressure. Under a rising tide of climate change, surfing is no longer about stoke or style, but a way to save the sacred tradition of Indigenous cultures. Moreover, it’s a core player in countless coastal economies. But sea levels are rising, coral is bleaching, and shorelines are slipping away.

But with sea levels rising, coral bleaching, and shorelines slipping into the sea, the question isn’t just where to catch the next wave—but whether there’ll be one left to ride.

Surfing at Risk

As an indispensable component of Indigenous Polynesian cultures, the future of surfing is tied to the survival of unique spiritual practices and ancestral connections. Damage in the ocean environment translates to the erosion of timeless customs. Surfing’s influence has become globalized. As a booming industry that supports many coastal industries, any risk to surfing could destabilize entire economies. Statista projects the surfing industry to rise to 4.8 billion dollars by 2027. But as sea levels are predicted to surge to 12-13 inches by 2050, this industry stands at risk (NOAA).

This could pose detrimental consequences on famous surf breaks through submersion and sandbar loss (Lindsey). Moreover, coastal erosion and changing ocean dynamics could lead to the loss of essential sandbars and reef conditions. This means the very water flow and shores of favorite surfing spots could become altered beyond recognition. Surfing businesses are primarily composed of small businesses lacking financial capacity for private ocean protection, leaving many highly vulnerable to any shift in the marine landscape.

The surfing issue is real. But so is the increasing climate action of surf-lovers.

Image Source: Floom Creative, Sustainability in Surfing 

The Surfing Economy: Greenwashed or Eco-Friendly?

The climate action of surfers has driven numerous environmentally friendly shifts in the surfing industry. Today, surfing is widely recognized as an environmentally friendly tourism sector and hobby. Surf participation also correlates with environmental conservation behaviors. From community clean-ups to large corporations, check out your local environmental conservation surf groups! Some organizations around the world include the Surfrider Foundation in Australia, the Surfers Against Sewage in the United Kingdom, the Surfbreak Protection Society in New Zealand, and the Save The Waves Coalition. Interestingly, Maxx Xu, a Junior Visual Art awardee in the 2023 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest, featured Dr. Chad Nelsen from the Surfrider Foundation as his climate hero. Below is a photo of the winning statue.

Image Source: Bow Seat

Heading into the waves, surfers ride at the forefront of marine environmental advocacy. Yet, the passion carries a dual-sided issue. Surf-driven coastal developments have had detrimental effects on surf beaches. Growing surfing populations and improper surfboard contact with marine surfaces could have detrimental impacts on the local environment (Martin and O’Brien). These impacts are most pronounced in areas with shallow coral reefs or inexperienced surfers. Many surfboards use toxic resins or petroleum-based materials. A shift to algae-based foams or recycled plastic boards aligns with the circular economy vision, where gear is reused, repaired, and redesigned for longevity and minimal waste (Mach and Ponting).

So, is surfing a chance to connect and protect our oceans? Or a risk towards destroying the very nature we seek to enjoy? The story could unfold either way, but by carefully crafting sustainable surfing habits, many surfing communities are expanding surfing’s positive environmental imprint. One such community is in Yangyang, South Korea.

Yangyang Surfing: A Case in Focus

On a five-day team trip to Yangyang, South Korea, students were able to work with a local surfing community for a blend of water sports and sustainability projects. Traveling to the beautiful east coastline of our peninsula, our team of thirty students surfed, plogged (ie, picking up beach trash), and upcycled sea glass material.

Source: SFS Yang Yang Surf Trip

In recent years, “many local businesses, surfers, and visitors have become more conscious of environmental impacts,” described Ms. Cho, one of our surfing leaders. For instance, several local surf shops are offering reusable board wax containers, reusable cups at cafes, and recurring community beach cleanups. Yangyang is lined with soft sand, steady waves, and colorful surf shops. But like any tourist hotspot, the area faces challenges. “Especially during peak season, Yangyang’s plastic waste . . . overflowing bins, and microplastics have become severe,” says Mr. Park, the sustainability project leader at Yangyang.

Many local surfers shared how they organize mini cleanups after morning surf sessions, picking up stray plastic bottles or fishing lines left behind. Some of our instructors even include a short “respect the ocean” talk during beginner lessons. While chatting with a few (immensely talented) local surfers and shop owners, one message from Ms. Cho stood out:

“The waves give us so much. The least we can do is protect them.”

Beyond the waters, upcycling seaglass can make keepsakes. Walking along the shoreline, we began with small colorful pieces mixed into the sand — sea glass. While some of this glass was originally litter, waves have softened the sharp edges into smooth, frosted gems. Collecting these became not just a fun hobby, but a reminder that even pollution can transform if we choose to handle it differently. I created small sea glass art pieces from my collection — simple, but meaningful souvenirs that carried a message about both creativity and care.

Even as a tourist or beginner surfer, it’s easy to contribute. Here are a few small actions I’ve focused on throughout the trip. Try choosing a few to take with you on your next beach getaway:

• Bring your water bottle and reusable bags instead of relying on convenience store plastics.
• Join spontaneous beach cleanups. Many surfers casually pick up trash after each session.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen to avoid polluting marine life. Before you purchase your next bottle of sunscreen for this summer, try checking out this article by the Coral Reef Alliance for reef-friendly sunscreen guidelines.
• Support local eco-conscious businesses — from surf rentals to cafés using paper straws or reusable containers.
• Turn beach waste into art. This leads to one of my favorite activities from the trip: sea glass collecting.

And perhaps most importantly, share these sustainable tips with your friends, family, and community!

Surfing for the Future

This trip taught me that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. You don’t need to organize massive events to make a difference. Every piece of trash picked up, every reusable cup used, every conversation shared — these are small waves of change that add up over time. As surfers, tourists, or just visitors, we have a responsibility to give back to the places that give us so much joy. The ocean allows us to ride its waves, and it’s up to us to keep those waves clean for the next person who steps into the water.

Catch waves. Care for the coast. And always surf sustainably! 🌊

 

Works Cited

Booth, Douglas. “Nature sports: ontology, embodied being, politics.” Taylor & Francis Online, 2017, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11745398.2018.1524306. Accessed 19 June 2025.

“Global surfing industry market size 2022-2027.” Statista, 19 July 2024, www.statista.com/statistics/1327319/surfing-market-size-worldwide/. Accessed 19 June 2025.

Lazarow, Neil. “Managing and valuing coastal resources : an examination of the importance of local knowledge and surf breaks to coastal communities.” Australian National University, 2010, https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/items/4a805634-7375-4fc0-bbc9-3c86f947e74e. Accessed 19 June 2025.

Lindsey, Rebecca. “Climate Change: Global Sea Level.” NOAA. Climate.gov, https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level. Accessed 19 June 2025.

Manero, Ana, and Leon Mach. “Valuing surfing ecosystems: an environmental economics and natural resources management perspective.” Taylor & Francis Online, 2 Oct. 2023, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616688.2023.2261909#d1e282. Accessed 19 June 2025.

Nelsen, et al. “A socioeconomic study of surfers at Trestles Beach.” Coastal Restoration Trust of New Zealand, 2012, ref.coastalrestorationtrust.org.nz/documents/a-socioeconomic-study-of-surfers-at-trestles-beach/. Accessed 19 June 2025.