IF you’ve been looking for a good excuse to head down to the beach at Margaret River (not that you need one), International Surfing Day on June 20 could be for you.
No matter who you are, what you ride or how you like to enjoy the waves, ISD is the day to be grateful for the waves and beautiful coastline we are so blessed to have here in Margaret River.
ISD was created by Surfing Magazine, in conjunction with the Surfrider Foundation, with the intention of giving surfers an unofficial day off to promote and celebrate the sport, while bringing awareness to the state of our oceans and beaches.
The Margaret River Surfrider branch have chosen to celebrate ISD by inviting anyone interested to meet at Surfers Point at 4pm for a rubbish pick and marine debris collection.
Troy Fynmore, Regional Coastal NRM facilitator for the South West Catchments Council, supports the marine debris collection, saying “it’s one way of removing extremely hazardous materials from our oceans, beaches and waterways as well as developing awareness and educating people on the devastating environmental and social effects”.
“A study has found that at least 267 species have been affected by marine debris worldwide, including sea turtles, seabirds, almost half of all marine mammal species, numerous fish and crustaceans, as well as sea grasses, of which ours in the South West represents one of the largest and most diverse temperate seagrass ecosystems in the world,” Mr Fynmore said.
The data from the debris collection will then be submitted to Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society (www.oceancare.org.au) for inclusion in their Cape to Cape Beach Clean Up Project.
One person enjoying the afternoon will be Blair Darvill, Margaret River Surfrider Foundation member, who was photographed on an enormous wave at Surfers Point several weeks ago.
“I love the waves here at the Point,” he said.
“This is another chance to come down to the beach, have some fun and give a little bit back.”
The clean up operation will be followed by a sundowner at the point and then the celebration will move to the Margaret River District Club at 6.30pm for a table tennis tournament and big screen surf movie bonanza.
The evening is free and all members and non members are very welcome.