EcoSwell’s New Wave of Surfonomics

I know it sounds crazy, but coastal cities are starting to use surfing to legally protect beaches and coastal natural resources. That is essentially the goal of surfonomics. A more exact definition of this new study, started only fifteen years ago, is the study and calculation of the (economic) value of surfing, surf tourism, and wave breaks to influence policy makers towards the conservation and sustainability of natural coastal resources. Over the next year, EcoSwell will be conducting a new study of surfonomics of Lobitos with the goal of establishing Lobitos as a World Surfing Reserve.
There are several major surf spots around the world that have already achieved this study and title. The first major surfonomics study was conducted in 2008 in Mundaka, Spain - home to one of the greatest wave breaks in Europe and the BillaBong Pro Championship. When a river was dredged to accommodate larger fishing boats, the Mundaka wave break was destroyed. BillaBong moved their tournament out of the country and thousands of surfers stopped traveling to this northern fishing town. The Save The Waves Coalition, with the help of Oregon University and Autonoma University Madrid, Spain, wanted to calculate the economic loss from the destruction of Mundaka. By using the an Economic Impact Analysis, calculating all aspects of the average surf traveler - food, lodging, travel and surf expenses, they were able to find that traveling surfers bring in up to $4.5 Million USD annually to Mundaka. With this finding, along with many more, the Mundaka wave break was issued a re-construction with the effort to welcome back all surf travelers.

Since Mundaka, surfonomics studies have taken place in the United States, Peru, and Chile with more in the tube. The study that will be conducted in Lobitos will be a collage of previous studies with the social studies addition of evaluating the culture of Lobitos and its relation to surf tourism. Over the next few months EcoSwell, with the help from Anthony Rizzi from Loyola University New Orleans, will be interviewing traveling surfers and local business owners during the most popular surfing period in Lobitos. The survey will continue through a whole year until September 2019 to understand surf tourism with a holistic view. Not only will this study be issued to the Save the Waves Coalition, but also the World Heritage Fund. These two world renowned organizations will be able to protect Lobitos from any future on and off-shore oil drilling, urban/hotel projects and any coastal infrastructure project that can negatively affect the wave breaks, the wind and sanding process, the wildlife and the coastline in general. Lobitos has a beautiful and vibrant culture, one that many surfers travel across South America to see and surf. Lobitos has also played a key role in Peruvian history and is also home to several endangered species and newly discovered archaeological sites. The EcoSwell team will post findings to SteemIt as the year progress so that other coastal cities may be inspired and encouraged to start their own surfonomics study. This network of support will push the sport and culture of surfing as leaders into a new era of sustainability, one that every major industry should follow for a greener and brighter tomorrow.

@EcoSwell is a for-impact, sustainable development organization based in Lobitos, Peru. Since 2014, we have been working everyday to help coastal communities thrive in unison with nature. All the revenue generated from our SteemIt posts go directly back into our projects. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Facebook, website, and follow us on SteemIt!