The surf ecosystem as an emerging framework for managing coastal and marine resources

Surf break conservation efforts are proliferating globally. Surf breaks are recreational and cultural resources that depend on marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems with discrete conservation values. The surf ecosystem is the interconnected social-ecological system in which geophysical, ecological, and social components interact to shape the breaking wave and wave-riding experience. We formalize this definition and provide a conceptual framework that operationalizes this approach for effective management strategies.