The Mid-Atlantic region of the Surfrider Foundation reached 100 Victories recently, a good time to celebrate and look back at the many big things we have accomplished in the region.
Surfrider defines an official “Victory” as, “a decision by a governing body that protects the coastal and ocean environment, improves coastal access, or both.”
Victories, and the campaigns they are based on, are how we protect our special coastal places, ensure our ocean is healthy and wild, keep pollution out of the water, and make sure every beach is clean and accessible for all to enjoy.
Our Mid-Atlantic region includes the nine volunteer-run chapters below. The year after the chapter name refers to the year they were chartered as chapters: Jersey Shore (1991), Washington DC (1996), Delaware (1998), Ocean City MD (1999), New York City (2000), Central Long Island (2004), Eastern Long Island (2004), South Jersey (2005), and Annapolis MD (2024).
Check out the whole list of wins for the Mid-Atlantic here, including a ton of local government plastic policies, but here are some of the more memorable highlights:
- Opening surf access in New York, including: Montauk Point, Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks, and Beach 67 and 90 in the Rockaways.
- Passed one of the first bag bills in the US in Washington DC.
- Banned foam foodware in Maryland.
- Passed a bag bill in New Jersey.
- Stopped the oil and gas industry in New York by blocking the LNG Sea Island, Williams LNG Pipeline, the Port Ambrose LNG facility, and general oil and gas infrastructure.
- Passed one of the first in the country “Skip the Stuff” bills in New York City.
Since we started keeping track in 2006, our 80+ chapters have notched over 900 victories across the country. After celebrating our 40th Anniversary as an organization this summer, we look to keep adding victories for our oceans and coasts in the Mid-Atlantic and nationwide.