5th Annual Global Wave Conference

By Meg Songer, Project Manager

The forum, organized by Save the Waves Coalition and Surfrider Foundation and hosted by the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, could not have been set in a more idyllic location. Big windows lining the conference room allow attendees to catch glimpses of the Santa Cruz Wharf and the surf (or lack-thereof) at Cowell’s beach. The weather was perfect but the lack of swell was probably a blessing, as it would have been a mild form of torture for the attendees, fidgeting in their seats, itching to paddle out. That’s because although the array of attendees was vast – lawyers, economists, innovators, activists, surf industry members, therapists, scientists, techies, filmmakers, and historians could all be found in the mix – they all had something in common. They shared a passion for surfing and protecting the coastline.

The aim of the event was to bring together the best international minds from the surfing, conservation, and innovation communities to tackle the world’s most challenging ocean issues. This issues included but were not limited to plastics, waste management, water quality, marine protection, and climate mitigation. One of the central themes of the conference was techniques on crafting messages.

FishWise was one of the handful of local Santa Cruz organizations to be invited to the event and was able to showcase its work in the seafood arena at a Happy Hour Networking event hosted by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center. FishWise project manager Meg Songer and director of advancement Lara Kilpatrick are grateful to be among the attendees at the 5^th annual event in early March.

Read more about the conference on Save the Waves’ site here.