The Surfrider Foundation today announced the launch of a nationwide “Long Live the Beach” campaign in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday.
“‘Long Live The Beach’ is a rallying call to protect our ocean, waves and beaches for today, tomorrow and the future,” said Chad Nelsen, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, which was founded in Malibu in 1984.
“The campaign celebrates the protection and enjoyment of our coast and ocean, gives a salute to those who are making a difference every day, and encourages every one of us who love the beach to get involved and make a difference,” he said.
The nonprofit foundation is hoping that International Coastal Cleanup Day brings out thousands of coastal “defenders” nationwide.
In 2015, more than a half-million volunteers came together for the one- day event to pick up more than 16 million pounds of trash over 12,000 miles of coastlines.
One of the clean-ups will be in Santa Monica, where Surfrider will partner with Parley for the Oceans. Plastics collected will be upcycled by Parley to create new products.
According to the Surfrider Foundation, plastic pollution and marine debris is a global crisis, with recent studies estimating that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
“We sometimes assume our oceans are pristine, healthy and accessible and they’ll just stay that way,” said big wave surfer and Surfrider ambassador Greg Long. “Our beaches face very real threats and the more people who are aware of the problem can be part of the solution. Together, we can help to ensure that the ocean and beaches we love will be protected, preserved and respected for generations to come.”
To learn more about Long Live The Beach and how to help protect the coastline, visit Surfrider.org/long-live.
