The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) Environmental Fund named 13 environmental organizations as beneficiaries of the 2006 Waterman’s Weekend, the surf industry’s annual environmental fundraiser. These 13 environmental organizations will dedicate those funds to programs that will address water quality and ocean pollution issues, defend beaches and surf breaks from development, or provide public education about ocean conservation. SIMA aims to raise $450,000 at the 2006 Waterman’s Weekend to donate to these environmental organizations.

The 13 environmental organizations selected to receive a percentage of the proceeds from the Waterman’s Weekend in the form of a 2006 SIMA Environmental Fund grant are: Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Institute, WiLDCOAST, Heal the Bay, Orange County CoastKeeper, Surfing Education Association, Alaska Wilderness League, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Save the Waves Coalition. Three new beneficiaries are Reef Check, KAHEA and SINADES. Each organization was chosen by the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors based on their commitment of funds to specific projects that will protect and preserve oceans, beaches and/or surf breaks.

“The state of our beaches and surf breaks directly affect our industry, so it is crucial we continue to help ensure the quality and health of our oceans for future generations,” said Paul Naude, chairman of the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors and CEO of Billabong USA. “This year we aim to raise $450,000 at Waterman’s Weekend, all of which will benefit the ocean-environmental organizations selected to receive a 2006 SIMA Environmental Fund grant. We have three new beneficiaries this year that we are proud to add to the list of prestigious returning beneficiaries, because even as environmental battles are being won there are countless others that need support. This is the surf industry’s way to make a difference in a variety of ocean-environmental causes-from educational programs to activist outreach.”

The SIMA Environmental Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation formed by the surf industry to provide support in the form of grants to environmental organizations. The annual Waterman’s Weekend serves as the primary fundraiser for the SIMA Environmental Fund through the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament and Waterman’s Ball and Auction. This year’s Waterman’s Classic will take place August 4 at the Monarch Beach Golf Links. The Waterman’s Ball and Auction will be held August 5 at The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, California. In addition to raising money for the environment, the Waterman’s Ball will be the venue for the surf industry to honor Quiksilver’s Bob McKnight as SIMA Waterman of the Year, surfer and recording artist Jack Johnson and his wife, Kim, as SIMA Environmentalists of the Year, and legendary Waikiki Beach Boy Rabbit Kekai with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

In selecting the 2006 SIMA Environmental Fund grant recipients, the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors requested that applicants submit a proposal detailing how the funds would be used to improve the ocean ecology or surf locations. Each organization’s proposal included a description of the specific program that the grant would be directed to, including a justification of the program and expected environmental impact.

Following is a list of the 2006 SIMA Environmental Fund grant recipients along with a description of the program(s) to which the organizations will be directing their grants:

Surfrider Foundation
Grant will enable efforts to save and improve surf locations through action oriented programs and campaigns, to protect or enhance surf locations through the Beachscape coastal mapping program, educate children in schools with the Respect the Beach program, and to ensure or protect the quality of water in the surf zone through the Blue Water Task Force program.

Ocean Institute
Grant will support the Watershed Education Program that is designed to bring fifth grade students in the communities once removed from the beach to the Institute for hands-on education about the environmental impact of their behaviors.

WiLDCOAST

Dedicated funds will support continued efforts to save surf breaks in Baja California, to launch a clean water campaign to reduce beach closures along the border and to continue to participate in the campaign to preserve Trestles.

Heal the Bay
Funds will support TMDL research, advocacy and stormwater permit programs to ensure that Los Angeles area waterbody quality regulations conform to the clean water act.

Orange County CoastKeeper
Grant will support efforts to reduce the health threats to wave riders and swimmers caused by urban runoff pollution in the coastal zones of Orange County, Calif., through advocacy efforts aimed at all levels of government, as well as enforcement, education and water monitoring efforts.

surfing education association
Dedicated funds will be used to prevent destructive legislation from being passed that would threaten surfing sites at Waikiki Beach and other surfing areas on Oahu.

Alaska Wilderness League
Dedicated funds will help protect sensitive marine and coastal areas offshore of the Arctic Refuge from oil exploration or development.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Funds will be used to educate young people about the role marine science plays in understanding and conserving the world’s oceans through a variety of educational programs and camps.

Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Funds will be used to support the distribution of the Watershed Wonders DVD and curriculum program for junior and senior high schools with the goal of educating students about the harmful effects of non-biodegradable plastic debris on marine life. Funds will also be used to expand distribution to states beyond California, translate the DVD into Spanish, develop a national program titled East Coast Watersheds and a new series of educational videos for classrooms.

Save the Waves Coalition
Funds will assist in the production of a full-length documentary film, Lost Jewel of the Atlantic, intended to share the history of surfing in Madeira, Portugal, and to raise awareness of the threats to Madeira’s sacred surf spots. Funds will also assist with a surf market research program to determine the strength of the global surf travel industry and the economic value of a high-quality surf destination, as well as direct action and educational campaigns to protect surf breaks.

Reef Check
Funds will be used to support Reef Check Hawaii, expand the new California program into Southern California, and develop Reef Check’s Baja Program. All programs are designed to scientifically monitor, restore and manage reefs worldwide.

KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
Funds will be used to build a coalition of activists to promote the protection of Hawaii’s coral reefs and to secure regulations for the cruise ship industry, to promote to the surf community KAHEA’s Eyes of the Ocean reporting campaign which allows individuals to describe observations of fouled ocean waters in Hawaii, and to support ocean protection issues including securing protection of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, gill nets and cruise ship regulations.

SINADES: Natural Systems and Development Civil Association
Funds will be used to empower a group of local youth in Todos Santos in conjunction with two local NGO’s to take direct action and develop plans for the conservation and protection of the community’s most important resources – the beaches and surf breaks of Todos Santos and Pescadero, B.C. S., Mexico.