Frontiers in Marine Science (Mar 2021)

Conservation Opportunities Arise From the Co-Occurrence of Surfing and Key Biodiversity Areas

  • Dan R. Reineman,
  • Kellee Koenig,
  • Nik Strong-Cvetich,
  • Nik Strong-Cvetich,
  • John N. Kittinger,
  • John N. Kittinger

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.663460
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services requires diverse models that empower communities to steward and benefit from resources. Here we investigate the potential of surfing resources, a new conservation asset class, and the surfing community, an underutilized conservation constituency, to conserve marine biodiversity. We conducted a spatial analysis of the overlap among Key Biodiversity Areas, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and 3,755 surf breaks globally. We find that 62.77% of surf breaks are not within MPAs and that 25.81% of all surf breaks are within 5 km of a Key Biodiversity Area, but are not within a MPA, suggesting that strategic conservation opportunities arise from the co-occurrence of surfing resources and biodiversity priorities. Establishing or extending protections to surfing ecosystems could increase protection for biodiversity at one-quarter of surf breaks. Sustainable management of these resources ensures their ability to provide for the character, economy, and development of coastal communities worldwide.

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