This document summarizes Brad Farmer and Professor Andrew Short's presentation at the 2011 Global Wave Conference about strategies to protect surfing waves globally through the establishment of National Surfing Reserves (NSR) and World Surfing Reserves (WSR). It outlines how the NSR model began in Australia in the 1970s/80s/2000s and has led to the declaration of 11 NSRs in Australia so far, with the goal of 25 by 2015. The NSR approach is presented as a model for other countries to follow to formally recognize iconic surfing locations and protect surf breaks through community engagement and sometimes legislation. The ultimate goal is to spread NSRs worldwide and form an "International Coastal Communities

1. Seminar 3
Worldwide Strategies to Protect Waves
Brad Farmer & Prof. Andrew Short OAM

2. Global Wave Conference 2011
Very well globally organised
20 years of advocacy in 15 mins – a ‘snapshot’ only
1,000’s of people involved – millions witnessed
New and successful realisation method
of wave protection

3. A surfer is … 'anyone who
interacts in the surf zone for recreation’
‘SHORT & FARMER 2007’

4. Everyone is a ‘surfer’
Not to be perceived as a ‘fringe’ group
for maximum political, economic and social leverage

5. A ‘National Surfing Reserve’ is …
a declared
‘iconic’ (sacred) surfing site
either in legislation or symbolically
NSR began in Australia : 1973-1993-2004
Australia is just 1 BIG beach

6. AUSTRALIA
100 years of surfing history
SLSA 1902, Duke 1914
10,685 beaches

7. About NSR …
1. Non profit
2. Run by volunteers
3. No corporate funding
4. No membership
5. Some government funding
6. 99% successful in Australia – K.I.S.S. method
7. Same level of protection as a ‘National Park or Marine Reserve’
8. NSR is the model for ‘WSR’
9. NSR seed partner to ‘World Surfing Reserves’
10. Engaged global planning and execution

8. ‘NSR (& WSR) Global Ambassador’
Kelly Slater
Bondi Beach, March 2010

9. The beginnings of NSR 1991 >

10. NSR: Setting global and national
standards …
It is the first time in any nation that …
Surfing has been recognised in parliamentary legislation
(law) to give surfers ‘primacy’ & enact powers to protect
wave environments
• Australia : NSW Crown Lands Act (1989)
• Hawaii : Executive Order : SB 2646
• New Zealand : Coastal Policy CPS (19)
• USA – Latin and South America
• EU ?

11. Why declare ‘iconic’ surf sites
1. To raise awareness : to formally recognise surf, surfers &
surf culture at a ‘iconic’ site
2. To record surf history of the site (booklet)
3. To proactively protect and preserve sites
4. To discourage threats : ‘early’
5. To empower and galvanise communities
6. To claim a form of sovereignty by ‘surfers’
7. To create a legislative basis for the future
8. To educate and include : governments, media, industry and
surfers – public awareness of sites / surfers

12. What is a NSR …
• A coastal surf zone declared by boundaries and law
• A national statement recognising the intrinsic heritage,
culture, environment, sporting and social values
• A voice for surfers and community
• A vehicle for engagement, education and activism

17. How we do it in Australia …
1. Identify and declare ‘iconic’ sites
2. Gradually establish local NSR local groups, assisted by a national body
3. Must have full support of local surfing community & preferably wider
community (bottom-up approach)
4. Engage all stakeholders
.. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Two NSR each year have been ‘declared’ since 2005
Now 11 NSR in Australia – 5 more in 2012
By 2015, completed 25 NSR in Australia
Presently, encouraging other nations to create their own NSR
(Hawaii, NZ, Indonesia, EU, Fiji etc)
NSR / WSR
Next : RSR (Regional Surfing Reserves)

19. REGIONAL VISION

20. AUSTRALIA : 11 / 17 / 25 NSR

21. NSR the future …
1. Any surfing nation can start a NSR
2. A NSR National Executive & NSR Local Steering
Committees (LSC) - plus possibly govt assistance
3. The base NSR model is available to all nations
4. The model will vary according to nation
5. Assistance is available (NSR Australia)
6. NSR will be in 5 nations by 2015
7. NSR will collaborate with WSR in two
complimentary ‘protection’ methods
8. Ministry for Coasts – Council of Aust Govts (COAG)

23. NEW ZEALAND

24. SRI LANKA

25. SOUTH AFRICA

26. PAPUA NEW GUINEA

27. INDONESIA

28. FIJI

29. HAWAII ‘SURFING RESERVES’
(2 in 2010)

30. Lennox Head NSR
400 sq H – 7.2 kms of surfing coastline

35. - Sovereignty -
(Surfers’ Sovereignty)
‘Territorial Integrity’
• n. pl. sov·er·eign·ties 1. Supremacy of
authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign
or sovereign state.
• 2. Royal rank, authority, or power.
• 3. Complete independence and self-
government.
• 4. A territory existing as an independent state.

36. Worlds’ First
‘Indigenous’ Surfing Reserve
NSW, Australia, 2012
Black Rock (Indig.) NSR with Aboriginal Elders Council, Aboriginal
Surfers, Commonwealth and State governments
40, 000 years of connection with ocean

37. Endurance and persistence
• Many years in the making (20/30 +)
• 1,000’s of volunteer hours
• A commitment to excellence &
K.I.S.S.

38. NSR Honourary Executive 2005 -2011

39. Working together with stakeholders

40. Govt, Indigenous, Business
Far North WA, Red Bluff, Gnarloo
Extensive / comprehensive stakeholder engagement in remote regions

41. Gold Coast NSR = 4 southern point breaks
20 years in advocacy – NSR Feb 24, 2011

42. Manly-Freshwater Beach
‘Birthplace of Australian Surfing’
… goes from a NSR in 2010 to a WSR in 2012

43. Manly – Freshwater - AUSTRALIA
both a National & World Surfing Reserve 2010/2012
Unique Status

44. Desired Outcome
1. The spread of NSR worldwide
2. Consider the seeding of an umbrella coalition of this GWC
group gathered; toward development of strategic (UNESCO
targeted) objectives
working concept title could be a …
‘INTERNATIONAL
COASTAL COMMUNITIES
COMMISSION’
FORMED AT GWC - OCT 25, 2011

45. THANKS
Gracias - Merci
www.surfingreserves.org