When you’re standing on the beach at LBI, watching the waves roll in and breathing that salt air, it’s easy to take for granted that this incredible coastline will always be there for us. The truth is, our beaches face real threats from plastic pollution to water quality issues, to the growing impacts of climate change. That’s where the Surfrider Foundation comes in, and their work matters more than ever for places like Long Beach Island.
For 40 years, the Surfrider Foundation has been doing something remarkable: turning love for the ocean into action that protects it. What began as a small group of surfers fighting overdevelopment and pollution in Malibu has grown into one of the world’s most effective coastal protection organizations. Today, they’re working on more than 100 campaigns across the country, and since 2006, they’ve turned over 900 of those campaigns into real victories for our coastlines.
Join Surfrider Foundation for International Surfing Day
International Surfing Day, which Surfrider established in 2005, has grown into their largest global event, with more than 150 events worldwide in 2024. Now in its 21st year, it’s become a celebration not just of surfing, but of healthy, accessible beaches for everyone. The message resonates whether you’re a surfer, a swimmer, a fisherman, or someone who simply loves walking the beach at sunset.
On Saturday, June 21st, in Ventnor, NJ, Surfrider is hosting an exciting beach clean up with FREE surf lessons, yoga, pilates, drum circle, live music and more! Located at Cambridge Ave + the boardwalk/north-side of the fishing pier, volunteers will help rid the beach of harmful pollution while enjoying an amazing day of relaxing and vibing.
Programs That Make a Real Difference
The scope of Surfrider’s work is impressive, but what I find most compelling is how practical and community-focused their approach is. Take their Blue Water Task Force, it’s the largest volunteer-run beach water testing program in the country. Volunteers regularly test water quality at beaches and alert communities when there are problems, because as they put it, “no one should get sick from a day at the beach.” For those of us who spend our summers in and around LBI’s waters, that kind of monitoring provides real peace of mind.
Their beach cleanup programs and Rise Above Plastics program tackle the plastic pollution issue head-on through education, community science, and policy campaigns. It’s not just about picking up trash, though that’s important too, it’s about understanding where the pollution comes from and working to stop it at the source.
The Ocean Friendly Restaurants program is particularly relevant to our LBI dining scene. By working with restaurants to reduce single-use plastics, they’re creating change one meal at a time. When you think about how many restaurants line our coastline and how many meals are served to visitors each summer, the potential impact is significant.
Beyond the Beach
What I appreciate about Surfrider’s approach is that they understand coastal protection extends far beyond the waterline. Their Ocean Friendly Gardens program provides sustainable landscaping solutions that reduce polluted runoff, which is something that directly impacts the water quality we enjoy when we’re swimming, boating, or fishing around LBI.
Their Climate Action Program connects volunteers to restoration projects that help protect coastlines from erosion while supporting local ecosystems. Given the challenges our barrier island faces from storms and sea level rise, this kind of work is essential for preserving the LBI we know and love for future generations.
Even their Ocean Friendly Hotels program makes sense when you consider how many visitors our area hosts each summer. By helping hotels reduce single-use plastics and make more sustainable choices, they’re multiplying the positive impact across the entire hospitality industry.
A Movement Worth Joining: How You Can Make a Difference
The Surfrider Foundation’s mission centers on five key areas: plastic reduction, ocean protection, beach access, coasts and climate, and clean water. These aren’t abstract environmental concepts, they’re the foundation of everything that makes coastal living special.
Here are all the ways to get involved:
- Attend an event, like International Surfing Day on June 21st
- Become a volunteer
- Join the South Jersey or Jersey Shore Chapter.
- Request to start a Surfrider Club at your school
- Contact your local officials
The beauty of Surfrider’s work is that it’s built on the idea that we’re all part of the solution. You don’t need to be an environmental scientist or policy expert to contribute. You can volunteer for beach cleanups, support their campaigns by contacting local officials, or make a donation to support their ongoing work.
For those of us who call LBI home or spend significant time here, getting involved with Surfrider feels like a natural extension of caring about this place. After all, protecting what we love isn’t just good policy, it’s personal.
When you’re enjoying everything LBI has to offer this summer, remember that the clean water, healthy beaches, and thriving coastal ecosystem we treasure don’t happen by accident. They exist because people care enough to protect them. The Surfrider Foundation has been leading that fight for four decades, and their work ensures that future generations will be able to experience the same magic we do when we’re here on the water.
That’s something worth supporting, one wave at a time!
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