LOS ANGELES, Calif., USA (April 22, 2023) - Today and every day, the World Surf League is committed to protecting and preserving our Earth for generations to come. Our athletes, staff, and fans are deeply connected to the ocean as it covers over 70% of our planet and is our arena and inspiration. This year's Earth Day theme is 'Invest in Our Planet,' and WSL is proud to lead the sports industry in raising awareness, inspiring action, and investing in conservation work around the globe to secure a more sustainable future. This ongoing commitment to protecting and conserving our one ocean includes the annual WSL PURE Grant Program as well as event-based activations throughout the WSL Championship Tour season.
For the third consecutive year, WSL's non-profit, WSL PURE, awarded grant funding to organizations in key WSL regions whose work aligns with WSL One Ocean, the global initiative to protect and conserve our one ocean (formerly known as We Are One Ocean). Each of the 2023 WSL PURE grant recipients has a unique connection to the locations on the 2023 World Championship Tour. Projects supported by the grants range from coral restoration in Tahiti to installing river barriers that prevent plastic from entering the ocean in El Salvador. Learn more about the 2023 WSL PURE Grant Program recipients.
In addition to the annual grant program, WSL One Ocean hosts event-based activations at each Championship Tour stop, highlighting the great work of unique community-based grassroots organizations from around the globe. The 2023 Championship Tour is approaching the halfway point, and WSL One Ocean has hosted activations at each of the first five events of the season. Activations included:
Billabong Pro Pipeline (Oahu, Hawaii): Wetland restoration project with North Shore Community Land Trust and partners.
-Over an acre of invasive species removed and 100 native plants established.
Hurley Pro Sunset Beach (Oahu, Hawaii): Wetland restoration project with the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation at their Learning Farm.
-Established native plant species and site prepped for future compost machine funded by the grant.
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona (Peniche, Portugal): Kelp restoration workshop with Hope Zones Foundation and SeaForester.
-Over 60 people educated on the benefits of kelp ecosystems and six kelp tree structures created.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Victoria, Australia): Restoration efforts to prevent coastal erosion on Wadawurrung Country near Djarrak (Bells Beach) with Jan Juc Coast Action, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, and Surf Coast Shire.
-2,707 square feet of invasive species removed from foredunes at Jan Juc Beach to prevent coastal erosion.
Western Australia Margaret River Pro (Western Australia): Coastal restoration project to prevent erosion with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, Margaret River Coastal Residents' Association, Undalup Association, Great Southern Reef Foundation, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, and Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
-300 native plants established in coastal rehabilitation area to prevent coastal erosion.
Over the course of the year, WSL One Ocean will continue to bring together athletes, community based organizations and fans to work together to protect our one ocean through activating at each of the next five CT stops, the Rip Curl WSL Finals as well as the Challenger Series US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico in Huntington Beach, and Malibu Longboard Championships.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com/WSLOneOcean.
About WSL One Ocean
WSL One Ocean is a global initiative committed to protecting our one ocean and preserving the future of our sport for generations to come. With community-led activations at each Championship Tour stop, WSL One Ocean works with inspiring organizations to impact spaces around coastal restoration and conservation, reducing plastics and climate action.