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Study: Santa Cruz surf economy worth roughly $195 million a year; sea-level rise threatens popular breaks
Summary
A Save the Waves/Black Surf Santa Cruz study presented Nov. 4 estimated roughly $194.7 million in annual surf-related spending tied to Santa Cruz breaks and warned that sea-level rise and coastal armoring could sharply reduce surfability without adaptation.
A first-of-its-kind surfonomics and vulnerability study presented to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 found that surfing and surf-related activity generate roughly $194.7 million annually for the region and that many iconic surf breaks could lose surfable hours as sea level rises.
"Surf ecosystems need to be embedded in the policy process," said Sean Burns, reserves network coordinator for Save the Waves, noting the study was supported by a grant from the California Ocean Protection Council. Burns said the study combined local expert knowledge, visitor data and economic modeling to estimate 783,000 annual surf…
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