3 Million Flop

An inquiry has been looked into the Boscome reef in Cornwall that has been called a potential £3 Million pound flop. An original promise of bigger and better waves, coupled with more surf days were not delivered. Ben Grower added: "The criteria were changed and it was not made absolutely clear to the council. Now an expert has admitted that surfing conditions on the reef are less consistent than they are on the beach."

With the hope that the reef would add extra added tourism and boost revenue for the local economy Bournmoth have decided to hold back £150,000 from ASR informing them, the last stage of payment will only be released when the reef is deemed more successful.

Patagonia's Online Mag

Patagonia have published an online magazine with the overriding theme on protecting surf spots globally.

They focus on the main spots that are in danger of being destroyed by a variety of causes, and link many of the reasons they are still here back to legal battles between the government and save the waves coalition.

The magazine also showcases FCD surfboards and their approapriate travel and wetsuit gear. All of this has been showcased in an ultra trendy style magazine where it is possible to click on different types of information and view video's on the topic.

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/fb/index.jsp?id=3&src=vty_eca004

BP Oil dome faces problems.

Londons based BP Plc had planned to lower a giant containment dome over a blown out Gulf of Mexico oil well on the sea floor. Their plan however encountered technical obstacles said a spokesman on Saturday.

Officials are scrambling for a solution to the problem stating, "As we were placing the dome over the leak source a large volume of hydrates formed inside the top of the dome, requiring us to move the dome to the side of the leak point."

As their only short term solution to the leak, a fail means BP will have to drill a relief well to cut off the leak which would take at least two to three months. This could mean an environmental disaster for four Gulf Coast states.

BP are deciding over a few short term fixes which should be put into action within the next 48 hours.

ITV Documentary

ITV documentary are looking to hear from families who believe they have contracted an illness or infection from the sea. If you or your children been sick after swimming or doing watersports or you've suffered from vomiting, diarrhoea, e coli, ear nose and throat infections or even contracted hepatitis A after being in the sea or playing on a beach then ITV is looking to hear from you for their documentary. 

Please contact harriet.gill@itv.com

Surfrider Foundation also offers a section on their website for people to complete a form about their sickness contracted from the sea, this form is available at their website: http://www.surfrider.org/oceanillness.asp

Paddling against a tide of plastic

Two paddle surfers Morgan Hoesterey and Jenny Kalmbeach have taken it upon themselves to paddle some 200 nautical miles across the Hawaiian islands to raise awareness of the state of pollution.

Many of the islands look untouched, however a closer inspection always reveals much more information. Although the feat has been completed before by Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama in 2006, the state off pollution is growing worse and can only be combatted by repeated attempts to raise awareness.

As they passed Lanai, a central island, known as 'Shipwreck Beach, also described as a beachcombers paradise, they come across a concrete hulled WW2 tanker, glusticks from Asia, sandals from the US, bottle tops, wrappers, trays, utensils, bags, baggies, detergent bottles, brushes, eyeglasses, tubing, barrels, drift nets, buoys and fragments of plastic worn down to no more than a grain off sand.

Plastic that has been worn down this small, then gets eaten up by fish, who we then fish. Plastic that we throw away will make it's way back into our bodies through the food chain.

Destination 3 Degrees- Snippet #1 from Soul Surf Media on Vimeo.

Kirra Point

Kirra Point is formed by a long ribbon of sand responsible for transforming the point into a tubing wave running all the way down the beach. On the right swell, it was possible to catch a wave the barrells all the way down the line up.

In recent years an excessive build up of sand has been pumped and dredged into Coolangatta bay meaning the levels of sand have increased by 3-4 meters. This has caused the beaches to widen by up to 150m and caused a massive decline in the quality of surf, increased the power of rips, and the covered up Kirra reef.

The above photo shows a demonstration by over 1500 surfers who paddled out to raise awareness of the issue. It is possible to take part in the campaign and gain more information at their website: www.kirrapoint.org

AMSTEL Surffilm Festibal

Now in their eighth year, this festival showcases the most recent surf releases to th Basque Country over five days. This year they will be awarding €6000 to the winner and an additional €1500 to the best short film. Entries must be submitted by the 15th of May.

Pavones, Costa Rica

Pavones, a wave deep in one of the most biodiverse regions of the planet is slowly being damaged by high levels of fecal contamination, due to sewage runoff from homes, hotels, and businesses that do not have proper sewage treatment facilities.

On top of this a recently approved tuna farm will polluted nearshore waters through the use of antibiotics and other industrial effluents used in the fish cages and farms. Not only would this threaten the already endangered population of Tuna by capturing them out at sea and transporting them to feeding cages, but it would also destroy the thriving local ecosystem. The project would also put local fishermen out of jobs, therefor it is important that everyone works together to try and hinder the building of this farm. Save the Waves Coalition is working hard to combat this problem.

San Mateo, Ecuador

San Mateo, is a tropical pointbreak in Ecuador offering world class left handers. The wave however is under threat from national authorities and private investors who are eager to build a fishing port. This would bury the spot and all local surf tourism, worsen erosion on the towns beach, and aggravate pollution and sedimentation in local waters.

Progress has been made through Save the Waves Coalition delaying the building of the port, they have proposed building the port in a revised area that would be safer and protect the local economy.