Pro Surfer Helping to Make "Blue" the New "Green"

Public Service Announcement

NOAA's public service announcement featuring nine-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.Credit: NOAA, Kelly Slater Foundation

Whether you live along the coast or deep inside the heartland, the ocean plays a vital role in the life of every American. Covering more than 70 percent of our planet, oceans provide us with food to eat, sources of energy, commerce, transportation, jobs, recreation, places to live — even medicines that heal. But the future of our oceans and coasts is in jeopardy. One of America’s champions of ocean stewardship is also a (nine-time) champion in his own right: professional surfer Kelly Slater. During his nearly 20 years as a pro surfer, he has traveled the planet in search of perfect surf and has witnessed many of the problems — below and above the wave break — that are destroying sensitive environments and posing grave risk to human and marine health. Together with NOAA, a public service announcement (PSA) was developed to draw the public’s attention to marine debris, coral reef degradation, and poor water quality at our beaches.

As individuals, it is possible to address these problems by making changes in our everyday lives. Much like “greening” our homes and workplaces, there are things we can all do every day to keep our oceans “blue” such as:

Marine Debris Coral Reef Degradation Poor Water Quality
Avoid single-use plastics. Invest in compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. Pick up after your pet.
Avoid purchases with excess packaging. Avoid direct contact with the reef while swimming, snorkeling, boating, and diving. Use natural/non-toxic home and lawn products.
Dispose of all trash and recyclable materials properly. Do not buy real coral jewelry. Have your septic system inspected and maintained properly to avoid overflow into groundwater and ultimately surface waters.
Pro surfer Kelly Slater demonstrating the marine debris problem.

Pro surfer Kelly Slater demonstrating the marine debris problem.
Credit: NOAA, Kelly Slater Foundation

For more information:

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

NOAA Marine Debris Program

NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative

Kelly Slater Foundation