Punta de Lobos, Manly, Malibu and, with luck, Oaxaca. The surf world is waiting to see if Punta Conejo in Oaxaca, Mexico, will make it on the list of protected surf zones.
Save the Waves Coalition is campaigning to save the treasured right hand point break, known as Punta Conejo, from development. If successful, an area of 3500 acres of land and 6.5 miles of coastline will be protected.
The coalition hopes that this year their work and the work of local activists, local businesses, and local surfers will go into law.
What’s At Risk
The three epic point breaks within the protected zone include Punta Conejo, Punta Chivo, and Punta Escondida. The area is located on the southwest coast of Mexico in the State of Oaxaca, only a few hours from the world-famous big-wave break of Playa Zicatela, in Puerto Escondido.
The three points are facing development from an industrial port and other projects that would threaten the zones. These projects would alter the beaches, pollute, and harm the ecosystems that artisanal fishers depend on.
According to the Save the Waves Coalition, there are 1,277 acres of mangrove forest, 40 species of birds, and 4 turtle species. Many of these species are endangered.
If passed, the reserve will be Oaxaca’s first and only Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna. The movement started in 2019, along with the local organizations Reservas de Surf Mexico, A.C., Wildcoast, and the Union de Surfistas y Salvavidas de Salina Cruz, A.C.
The group is working with local business leaders to create viable alternatives. The mission is to save and create jobs while protecting the region’s ecosystem, a goal that the coalition believes is within reach.
Other Protected Surfing Reserves
In addition to the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna, there are several globally recognized protected habitats for surf zones. These protected areas also include coastlines without surf.
However, there are already several world-class surfing zones that are World Surfing Reserves. The Save the Waves Coalition started the program in 2019, and since then, they’ve added 12 breaks to the list.
The World Surfing Reserves:
- Malibu, California in 2009
- Manly-Freshwater, Australia in 2010
- Ericeira, Portugal in 2011
- Santa Cruz, California in 2011
- Huanchaco, Peru in 2013
- Punta de Lobos, Chile in 2013
- Bahia de Todos Santos, Mexico in 2013
- Gold Coast, Australia in 2015
- Noosa, Australia in 2017
- Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica in 2020
- North Devon, United Kingdom in 2022