Over 30 years ago, a small group of surfers made a powerful statement by founding the Surfrider Foundation, promising to protest threats to their local beaches through action. The Surfrider Foundation is an activist network dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean, waves and beaches. Their citizen science program, the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), provides water quality information to beach communities. It also raises awareness of local water pollution problems, and works collaboratively with local stakeholders to implement solutions. Surfrider has a network of volunteer run labs specifically for BWTF, which measure bacteria levels at ocean beaches and in freshwater sources. They then compare the results to the national water quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect public health in recreational waters.

In 2016, the Surfrider Foundation joined forces with Smartfin, a sensor-equipped fin for surfboards that measures ocean chemistry, and which you can see in action in Episode 4 of THE CROWD & THE CLOUD. Surfrider protects more than just waves for surfing, and in fact you don’t have to be a surfer to join. It’s a network of defenders, activists, and citizen scientists who channel their passion for coastal ocean habitat into long-term protection. By partnering local, community knowledge with national experts in law, policy and science, the organization has a long-standing track record of victories over ocean pollution and other ecosystem threats.

Their vision is to “keep beaches open to everyone, promote smart coastal development, protect special ocean and coastal places before they are threatened, ensure the water is clean to surf and swim, and that the beaches are free of plastic litter.” Volunteers for the Surfrider Foundation have an appetite for adventure and share a common passion: appreciating the ocean.

Surfrider Foundation projects on SciStarter:

https://scistarter.com/project/15069-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/15066-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/14743-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/14742-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/14324-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/10424-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/14317-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/14316-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/11103-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/11098-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...

https://scistarter.com/project/11071-Surfrider-Foundation%27s-Blue-Water...