WA Project Aims to Protect Surfing Culture with $2.7 Billion Economic Impact

A new project led by Dr Ana Manero at The University of Western Australia aims to value and protect WA's surfing culture. Despite recreational surfing contributing $2.7 billion annually to Australia's economy, surf breaks lack management guidelines. Dr Manero said that despite their benefits, surf breaks are increasingly threatened by changes to the coastline.

The project, funded by the Australian Research Council, will gather insights from local surfing communities in Geraldton, Perth, Margaret River, and Albany. Dr Manero is hosting Associate Professor Leon Mach, an international expert in surf science and tourism, to build an understanding of surfing values through community and policy-maker engagement initiatives.

The project aims to develop Australia's first state-level surf management guidelines for Western Australia. Dr Manero said that WA is now in a unique position to lead the way in recognizing and protecting surfing resources. Similar guidelines exist in Aotearoa New Zealand, where nationally important surf areas have direct statutory protection.