What’s a wave worth?

SAS are launching an important new economic survey to better understand the value of surfing to the UK, both nationally and regionally. This survey can also help dispel the myth that surfers operate on the outer fringes of society. SAS urgently need water users to fill in an anonymous survey about their surfing habits.

SAS hope the findings will help highlight the economic value of surfing waves around the UK so regulators, decision makers and MPs can better understand the importance of protecting our waves and protecting the many surfers who live to ride them.

There have been some isolated studies carried out on the value of waves regionally in the UK and around the world. For example, in 2004 a study estimated the value of surfing to Cornwall at £64 million per annum (South West Regional Development Agency.) A similar study for North Devon estimated the value of surfing for this region at £54 million per annum (TRISURF). And globally there have been several studies for world renowned waves like Trestles (by Surfrider International), Mavericks and Mundaka (by the Save The Waves Coalition). But SAS have identified a need for better economic information within the UK, both nationally and regionally. With your help, SAS’s new survey can help fill this data gap.

Waves have an inherent natural capital value. They are vital in transporting energy around the planet and dramatically influence our coastal processes. They also have a high intrinsic value among water sports communities.

However, this new survey aims to identify an economic value for surfing waves, because whilst the value of the natural tasks waves perform are priceless, often an economic value is needed to persuade decision makers to protect our waves. This study has been designed in conjunction with the economist Dr Mills (Cornwall College) and find findings will be released later this year.

SAS need a significant amount of responses to ensure the data is statistically robust. Please fill in the survey, it should take approximately 5 minutes. And please share with your waveriding friends.