Mission Statement: SEA is a voluntary environmental watchdog body dedicated to preserving our surfing heritage. It's a national body formed to coordinate and act on local, national, and international issues. United we have a chance of making a difference by preserving our surfing heritage, but divided we will simply watch break after break disappear under misappropriate development.
P.O. Box 37798
Overport 4067
South Africa
Phone: +27.31.2059111 (ask for "ze dokter")
Fax: +27.31.2059111
E-mail: allan@futurenet.co.za
Formed: 1998
Chapters: Durban, Port Alfred, East London, Port Elizabeth, J-Bay, Cape Town -- all under the guidance of local commandos. Local mos lekker!
Executive Director: Dr. Alan Smith
From the Beach: Nearly all SEA's income is derived from membership. Sponsorship-support currently comes in the form of advertising. Hopefully this support will grow to include financial backing over time.
To the Beach: 80% to running the organization; 20% for projects
Roots | Past Victories | Present Battles
Roots
The captain, Dr. Alan Smith, was not the originator of the SEA idea, but was the man who took the proverbial bull by horns when the concept was still in the design stage. "I jumped at the chance to give something back to surfing," says the good Doc.
Just a word of warning here: this is not the type of doc who will ask you to cough while cupping your nads. Smith is a doctor of geology, having majored in marine geology -- the ideal profile to head up an organization in a country where environmental common sense often takes a backseat to intangible notions such as community uplifting, sustainable development and corruption. (Ah, just jokin' about the last one!)
Smith's original vision was to be a low-key but credible and powerful organization. "The start has been slow, but the major players in SA surfing are beginning to back us, and so our mandate is strengthening," Smith says. "The SEA directors are finding it increasingly difficult to keep a low profile. As proof, two SEA directors were removed recently from a private contract due to a SEA-related issue." [Author's note: it related to a stormwater outlet rehabilitation project in the Durban basin.]
Past Victories
Helped end the proposed capture of wild dolphins for the PE aquarium
As the doc says, "Dolphins are surfers too!"
Participated in the scratching of the proposed nuclear power station at Thysbaai (near Jeffreys Bay)
Although public sentiment remains divided on the virtues of nuclear power, the major issue for surfers was that the technology did not require a water source for a coolant. If the reactor was gas-cooled, surfers said, why place it on a stretch of pristine coastline? There were also serious question marks over the PBRM (Pebble Bed Reactor Model) technology itself, and ESKOM (South Africa Electrical Power) were accused of trying to introduce outdated nuclear models to the country. SEA was by no means solely responsible for the government's decision to reconsider, but were certainly involved in the process. This, probably more than any other issue, raised the environmental awareness among the surfing community in South Africa.
Present Battles
Campaigning against unsafe fishing practices off the piers at Durban's premier surfing beaches
SEA has stirred up a major fight with Durban Metro (petition, media coverage and management report submitted to the mayor) over the unsafe practices of allowing anglers to fish from piers in the best surfing zone in Durban. This is getting nasty, but too many surfers have already been hurt. Two SEA directors were removed from a private environmental contract because one fisherman stated that he did not trust them to be even-handed. Although most other fishermen and fishing associations stated that they had no objection, this was still deemed sufficient cause for the SEA members' removal. Status ongoing.
Investigating the pollution levels from the Durban stormwater marine outfalls
This project is currently in the scoping stage.
Campaigning to get J-Bay declared an international heritage site
SEA is currently wading through the reams of legal requirements to get this world-class wave permanently preserved.
General baseline monitoring of the SA coastline for projects such as the proposed Elands Bay marina
Lovers of lefts can rejoice in the knowledge that the ambitious marina project is currently on hold. SEA is keeping its eye on other potential surf-damaging projects. --Jeremy Saville
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