Save The Waves Coalition

ABOUT US
Save The Waves Coalition (STW) is an international nonprofit that works in coalition with diverse organizations dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems.

The Ericeira World Surfing Reserve is a world-class surf zone encompassing approximately 5 km of coastline. It contains a high density of outstanding surf breaks, including iconic breaks such as Ribeira d’Ilhas and Coxos, among others.

“It is a homage to all local fishermen that over the centuries have respected and praised this beautiful ocean. It is also an assumption of the responsibility for its preservation, making sure that this valuable universal heritage will continue to be enjoyed in its entirety by future generations, just as it was for the pioneers of surf in Portugal, who were awed by its discovery.”

Attributes of a World Surfing Reserve

Surf Culture & History
The ancient population of Ericeira was inhabited by an ethnic group called ‘Jagoz’, different from the neighboring villages because this group lived almost exclusively from the sea. Similary, the community of surfers at the core of this Reserve have been here for years, quietly living off the quality and variety of surf offered up on a regular basis.  Ericeira has been a destination for years and today is now home to numerous surf schools and other surf-related businesses, in addition to regional and international surf competitions. Ribeira d’Ilhas currently hosts the Quiksilver Pro Portugal each year, an ASP men’s prime professional contest.

Environmental Charactertics

The coastline is dominated by rocky cliffs and punctuated by beaches located in small bays. The waters of the Ericeira coastline are some of the richest in biodiversity in the world. Upwelling mixes a tremendous amount of rich nutrients on a regular basis. Portugal has around one thousand marine species and commercially fishes sardine, tuna and Atlantic mackerel.