Extractive industries pose enormous and varied threats to surf zones and coastal marine areas in general. Thes industries include, first and foremost, oil and gas. Fossil fuel infrastructura jeopardizes both safe access to coastal areas and water quality in these areas.

Another notable extractive industry is mining, which includes damaging dredging operations. Specifically, deep sea mining, which is a process of extracting minerals and metals from the seafloor, can damage and disruot ecological ecosystems with fra-reaching consequences. Over the past decade, seabed mining proposal have inspired resistance and activism from surfers, environmentalists and community members around the world, from Cornwall to New Zealand.

Although the International Seabed Authority has so far delayed approval of deep sea mining projects, it has not imposed any permanent ban. For its part, the Surfrider Foundation calls deep sea mining "the next big threat to the ocean" amid increased demand for marine minerals and metals, driven by increased demand for energy trasition technologies; meanwhile, the surfing community must remain vigilant to the growing threat posed by such mining.

So far 23 countries (including Fiji, Costa Rica and, most recently, the UK) have requested a moratorium or precautionary pause on seabed mining. However, many other countries (including Mexico, Peru, and the United States) have not endorsed this request.

1.1 LOBITOS, PERU

Lobitos is a district of Piura, a region located in northen Peru. There, the waves have been threatened by the construction of oil wells and platforms in the waters near the breaker. Due to this construction, there are now oil gas pipes along the beach, making the access to beach difficult and dangerous: surfers and other bathers may encounter pieces of pipe. In addition, there is a risk of contamination due to possible oil leaks, which could make such waters toxic and endanger both people and marin life. Fortunately, the HAZla por tu Ola campaing has succesfully obtained legal protections for the Lobitos waves. This example, however, reflects the widespread dangers that fossil fuel industry activity poses to waves around the world when conducted near them.

1.2 SOUTH TARANAKI BIGHT, NEW ZEALAND

Surfers, environmentalists, fishermen and local indigenous people have come together, including through the formation of communitu groups such as Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, to resist in the face of seabed mining in New Zealand. In 2017, these stakeholders testified against a proposal that sought to mine iron ore offshore the country's west coast, where the biodiversity hotspot of South Taranaki Bight is located; their central argument was that the environmental consequences of such a proposal were unknown and potntially disastrous. In 2021, there was a major victory for environmental groups: New Zealand's Supreme Court ruled against Trans Tasman Resources´permit to mine South Taranaki Bight, which would have involved excavating 50 million tons of seabed annually for a period of 35 years. Approximately one year later, in October 2022, the New Zealand government announced its support for a moratorium on deepwater mining international waters, pending the development of robust environmental regulations for such mining. As a result, for now the New Zealand coastline remains protected. However, the government may change its position in the future, especially as has called for a temporary moratorium and pilital leaddership can change with each election cycle.

● Ask your government to join the coalition of countries calling for a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep sea mining at the international level, and on the implementation of national policies restricting deep sea mining activities.

● Be alert to any seabed mining near you and ensure that full environmental impact studies are carreid out where such projects are proposed or developed.

● Get involver with organizations or chapters of organizations addressing this threat to surf waves, such as Surfrider Foundation, Greenpeace, and Sustainable Ocean Alliance.

Sign here the international Greenpeace petition to stop deep sea mining.