Thank you to our volunteers for another incredible year of hard work improving our coasts and ocean in the Mid-Atlantic, including seeing the region hit 100 Victories since we started counting in 2006! Your dedication gets us closer to our goals of clean water and healthy beaches, for all to enjoy.
The nine volunteer-led Surfrider chapters in the Mid-Atlantic put in countless hours of their time, leading to some big victories, including, improving beach access in New Jersey, starting first in the nation fights against construction plastic pollution, and kicking off our new Climate Action Program with multiple dune grass plantings.
COASTS AND CLIMATE
Nationally, Surfrider launched our new Climate Action Program, with the goal of restoring coastlines to make them more resilient to the impact of climate change. Jumping right into this program, our NYC Chapter hosted a dune planting with partner RISE, and our Jersey Shore Chapter hosted three dune plantings.
On the policy side of things, our four New York Chapters got a big win with the passage of the NY Superfund Act, which will provide funding for climate resiliency projects, paid for by the oil and gas industry.
PLASTIC
It was another big year of plastics policy and program work in the Mid-Atlantic! We organized at least 36 beach cleanups, and increased our Ocean Friendly Restaurant tally to 38.
On the policy front, our South Jersey Chapter, working with other local groups and concerned locals, began passing ordinances that require construction sites to contain and remove plastic and other particles. These pollutants would otherwise end up in storm drains, and ultimately the ocean. The Chapter has already notched two victories passing these ordinances. The Chapter has also continued their successful monofilament collection boxes, which offer a way for people to ensure that used plastic fishing line doesn’t end up in the ocean. There are currently 90 boxes in the region.
Our Annapolis Chapter started their first ever campaign, and won a great victory by passing a “bag bill” that bans thin film plastic bags, and places a 10 cent fee on paper and reusables bags--a guaranteed method of reducing plastic bag usage and litter.
Our Eastern Long Island Chapter started three campaigns to pass “Skip the Stuff” ordinances, which require restaurants to ask customers first before automatically putting things like plastic utensils, condiment packets, and chopsticks into to-go and delivery food orders. They were rewarded with a victory in East Hampton Village.
Our four New York chapters continued to support Extended Producer Responsibility and Bottle Bills, which got very close to passing, and got a victory by defeating a bad bill that supported and promoted “chemical” recycling.
CLEAN WATER
Nationally, Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) helped keep beachgoers safe by gathering and testing over 9,000 water samples at over 500 sites throughout the United States. In the Mid-Atlantic, the Eastern Long Island, NYC, and Delaware chapters continued to provide valuable public safety information through their successful BWTF programs.
In a big win for the environment and human health on Long Island, the Eastern Long Island Chapter led Surfrider’s involvement in a major policy initiative to fund upgrades to leaky septic systems. This new program, passed through a voter proposition, will be a game changer for water quality on Long Island.
The South Jersey chapter’s Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG) at Ventnor Middle School engaged local students and community members, including inspiring homeowners to install rain barrels to reduce runoff. Core volunteers painted individual barrels, which tell the story of the importance of managing water around homes in order to reduce water usage and prevent excess runoff into the ocean and estuaries.
ACCESS
Surfers across the US were shocked this summer when a surfer was violently arrested in Belmar, New Jersey because he lacked a beach badge. Surfrider jumped into action, conveying a public meeting and publishing a comprehensive legal summary of beach fees and access. We are continuing to evaluate options for increasing fairness and access to New Jersey’s beaches.
Meanwhile, in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, our Jersey Shore Chapter was rewarded with a big surprise when a decades long Sunday beach closure in that town ended. We haven’t proclaimed complete victory yet, as legal issues are still being solved by the courts, but the opening of a beautiful beach on summer Sundays was a sight to celebrate.
CHAPTER NETWORK
Each of the Chapters had an amazing roster of volunteer opportunities and events in 2024. Some highlights include the DC Chapter’s surf day in partnership with SoulTrak, a D.C. based nonprofit that connects communities of color to outdoor spaces.
In 2024, the Annapolis chapter charter was officially approved, making them the ninth chapter in the Mid-Atlantic region! The Annapolis Chapter’s collaboration with local schools has helped cultivate five new student clubs in Maryland.
The Ocean City and Jersey Shore Chapters both led sustainability programs at the Ocean’s Calling and Sea.Hear.Now Music Festivals in September, diverting TONS (literally!) of metal and plastic bottles from the ocean and landfill as well as running the water bottle refill stations.
The Delaware Chapter held their first annual Surf Swap in Rehoboth and the Jersey Shore Chapter led their 18th Annual Family Day event in Asbury Park, offering free activities for kids and families, including surf lessons, an educational scavenger hunt, water safety instruction, arts and crafts, food, and live music.
Photo Credit: Michael McKenna
The Central Long Island Chapter partnered with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to host regular beach cleanups throughout the year. The Eastern Long Island Chapter hosted another successful Surf Movie Night.
The New York City Chapter continued its incredible corporate beach cleanup program, hosting 30 beach cleanups, collecting 2,000 pounds of trash, and engaging with over 1,000 volunteers.
SUMMARY
The Surfrider Foundation nationally celebrated our 40th anniversary this year, growing from just a small group of concerned surfers in 1984, to our nationwide network of over 80 chapters and more than 200 student clubs. Check out this video chronicling our start, and we look forward to working with you to keep us going for another 40--huge thanks to our Mid-Atlantic volunteers!