SURFIDER FOUNDATION EUROPE
Surfrider Foundation Europe is an international environmental non-governmental organization (INGO), founded in 1990 as a non-profit. Its goal is to “protect and enjoy the ocean, waves, coasts, lakes, rivers, and all the populations that depend on them”. It is part of the global Surfrider Foundation network.
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation Europe is an international environmental non-governmental organization (INGO), founded in 1990 as a non-profit. Its goal is to “protect and enjoy the ocean, waves, coasts, lakes, rivers, and all the populations that depend on them”. It is part of the global Surfrider Foundation network.
Surfrider Foundation Europe was established in 1990 in Biarritz, France, by a group of surfers looking to protect their playground, including three-time world surfing champion Tom Curren, who now serves as the association’s ambassador. From its inception, Surfrider Foundation Europe adopted the same objectives as its parent organization, Surfrider Foundation, founded in the United States in 1984.
The organization
Surfrider Foundation Europe is headquartered in Biarritz, France, its city of origin. The association has three regional offices dedicated to implementing its projects (located in Marseille, Bordeaux, and San Sebastian), as well as two offices responsible for coordinating political advocacy efforts (in Paris and Brussels).
Surfrider Foundation Europe is also supported by 47 volunteer chapters across 12 European countries, including Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal. The organization employs 80 staff members to run its operations.
Fields of Action
Surfrider Foundation Europe operates across several areas to protect marine and coastal environments. Its key fields of action are:
- Water Quality: Surfrider Foundation Europe is committed to monitoring and improving water quality in oceans, rivers, and lakes. The association raises public awareness about the risks of water pollution and advocates for stricter regulations on pollutant discharges.
- Aquatic Litter: The NGO actively fights plastic pollution and debris entering oceans and beaches. It organizes beach, river, and lake cleanups while educating the public on the importance of reducing waste at the source.
- Coastal Management: Surfrider Foundation Europe works to mitigate the impacts of climate change on oceans and coastal areas. The organization promotes nature-based solutions and strives to strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems against extreme weather events.
our partners
