Centre for Blue Governance’s Post

The proposed Honokea West wave pool in Hawaii has sparked controversy, with protesters highlighting concerns about development, conservation, and cultural preservation. While opponents argue for further study and preservation of cultural elements, supporters emphasize the project's potential to enhance cultural traditions. Stewarded by respected waterman Brian Keaulana, Honokea West aims to integrate Hawaiian values into its operations, emphasizing surf education and cultural sensitivities. Environmental concerns regarding water usage have also been raised, with protesters fearing groundwater pollution from the pool. Despite these challenges, Honokea has a history in the wave pool space, navigating previous projects like NLand in Texas. The project's success hinges on navigating a complex web of cultural, environmental, and economic factors unique to Hawaii. As wave pools continue to emerge globally, the debate over Honokea West raises broader questions about balancing development with conservation and cultural preservation. Projects like Honokea West need to effectively integrate into sensitive environments while respecting local traditions and concerns. Marrying Innovation with sustainability is the way forward. #honokeawest #surf #wavepool #sustainability #surfpools #exventur #surfside

If you missed the interview on Inspirators series, edition 140. All the information below

To save the planet, we need to save surf breaks. Surfer Magazine breaks down the connection between surf breaks & irrecoverable carbon, why surf spots need to be saved, and how Conservation International has played a role: “So far, Conservation International has worked with partners to establish 30 Surf Protected Areas in Indonesia, Costa Rica and Peru. These Surf Protected Areas are centered on surf breaks and seek to protect their larger surrounding ecosystems including coastal forests, mangrove, beaches, seagrass, coral reefs and the waves themselves.” Learn more. ⤵️

Discover the story of Dominique Tehei, a Tahitian fisher shaping sustainable fishing's future. Tahiti's leaders are reviving the traditional practice of "rāhui", which are temporary conservation zones, that restore marine ecosystems, replenish fish stocks, and protect endangered species. 🐠 These efforts, supported by communities and researchers, are not only preserving biodiversity but also deepening Tahitians' connection to their ocean. For nearly a decade, #PewBertarelliOceanLegacy project has been pivotal in advancing marine protection in French Polynesia. Working alongside governments, local communities, and Indigenous groups, the project has funded essential research into the ecological and economic impacts of these initiatives. A significant milestone is the ongoing effort to establish the 500,000-square-kilometer Rāhui Nui protection zone, aimed at preserving marine ecosystems through the traditional practice of rāhui. Discover more about this revitalized tradition and its role in Tahiti's future: https://lnkd.in/dXx9s_gw Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy The Pew Charitable Trusts #PBOL #pewbertarellioceanlegacy #Biodiversity #Nature #Tahiti #Ocean #OceanConservation #MarineProtection #Rahui

Rio is becoming a swimmable city again! An overdue Olympic promise to make Rio's beaches swimmable again is finally taking shape. For the first time in more than a decade, Rio de Janeiro's beaches are safe for swimming again. When Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympics in 2016, images of the iconic lagoons were everywhere. Long polluted by sewage and garbage, many hoped the investments tied to the international sports event would restore its waterways. That didn't happen... But after years of pollution concerns, a recent project to remove sewage and filth from the lagoons is showing promising results. Rio de Janeiro is making significant progress in its efforts to restore the water quality of its beaches, making them suitable for swimming once more. Swimmable Rivers #swimmablecities Matt Sykes https://lnkd.in/emnP6kwU

From Forest to Sea

A controversy at my local break! This erosion saga at Sloat Blvd has been ongoing for decades. I’ve been super disappointed in the planning process, the lack of progress, the bureaucratic BS, and the dilapidating infrastructure all the while. Like most situations where the environment and human waste intersect, there is no easy answer. The city wastewater treatment plant is right on the beach, subject to erosion. It was a terrible spot to put it and no amount of beach erosion measures (mostly dumping construction garbage and sand) have stopped nature. The new proposal is massive underwater wall. This could very well waste millions without any hope of a long term solution. As an added bonus, this plan risks changing the world class waves out front. This area used to have an estuary which naturally controlled erosion for millennia. Maybe the long term solution is the one that worked, long term, before we filled it in with concrete? It’s a radical idea but one that I’d like to see some analysis on (yes I have shared this idea with the “50 year master plan” team). And, an estuary mouth would be great for wildlife and make some nice peaks. I’d love to hear from other local activists that have faced similar situations.

New: Here’s another reason to get stoked about surfing: Forests, marshes and mangroves adjacent to surf breaks store 88.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to a first-of-its kind study. That represents about 1% of annual global energy-related emissions, equivalent to the carbon spew of 77 million cars. The type of carbon sequestered around surf breaks is significant, according to the peer-reviewed paper published Tuesday in the journal Conservation Science and Practice. Researchers call it “irrecoverable carbon,” meaning it could be released by development but would be impossible to re-sequester before the mid-century deadline to reach net-zero emissions and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. “The protection of these surfing areas helps to achieve two of our most important conservation goals, both protecting biodiversity and keeping carbon in those soils, in those forests and in the mangroves,” said Scott Atkinson, a co-author of the paper and senior director of surf conservation at environmental group Conservation International. Bloomberg Green #surfing Free link for seven days. https://lnkd.in/dpdkrgqA

New study shows new permit system did not reduce incidents or rescues, Half Dome Hiking permit system did not cut down on injuries @YosemiteNPS although experience is better https://risk-mgmt.co/l0s @RecreationLaw #RecLaw #RecreationLaw #ORRiskManagementIsurance&Law

VATupdate Newsletter Week 35 2024 Nature is wonderful. I highly recommend stepping outside for a short walk in a nearby park, forest, or, if possible, along a lake or beach shore. Peru is home to a beach with some of the most perfect waves in the world, called Chicama, which boasts the longest wave on the planet. The magic of Chicama lies in its almost perfectly formed waves, which are mostly hollow due to the lack of reefs. The deserted Chicama shoreline culminates in a diamond-shaped headland, which causes the swells from the south to wrap around the tip, forming up to 50 wave lines. These waves can continue for up to four kilometres, making them a favourite among surfers. Chicama is the first and only legally protected wave in the world, with Peru's government implementing regulations to safeguard the surrounding coast.