Surf industry fights pollution

With surfers increasingly on the front lines of the bacterial cocktails flowing from coastal runoff, the surf business is stepping up its role in the clean water fight. The Surf Industry Manufacturers Assn., or SIMA, has distributed $320,000 to eight environmental groups to combat pollution, conserve sensitive sites, maintain the integrity of established surf breaks and spread the eco word to the younger generation of surfers.

The money was raised during the 14th annual Waterman’s Weekend fundraiser last summer. Funds have been awarded to the Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Institute, Wildcoast, Heal the Bay, Orange County Coastkeeper, the Surfing Education Assn., Alaska Wilderness League and Seymour Marine Discovery Center. All groups had to submit a proposal detailing how the funds would be used.

Major sponsors of the fundraiser included Billabong, Body Glove and Ocean Pacific. Paul Naude, chairman of the SIMA Environmental Fund and chief executive of Billabong, said that the funds “will have a tangible and measurable effect on protecting our oceans and helping to preserve them for future generations of surfers and ocean lovers to enjoy.”

Overall, the SIMA Environmental Fund has raised more than $2.3 million.

-- Pete Thomas