Assessing the Potential for Surf Break Co-Management: Evidence from New Zealand |
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Authors: | Aaron Edwards Wayne Stephenson |
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Institution: | Department of Geography , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand |
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Abstract: | The involvement of surfers in surf break co-management initiatives may assist local authorities in providing for surf breaks and develop community stewardship. This research involved a comparative case study of the Auckland and Otago regions in New Zealand to assess the potential, and identify key ingredients, for successful surf break co-management. An online survey of surf break users (n = 181) and qualitative interviews (n = 16) considered the potential voluntary involvement of surfers, the role of local authorities and types of approach to surf break co-management. Findings indicate a level of support from a proportion of surfers to be involved and stress the need for local authorities to provide a supporting policy response. A local-scale co-management approach, similar to National Surfing Reserves in New South Wales, Australia, is considered more likely to produce positive outcomes compared to the involvement of surf break interests in coastal-wide co-management approaches. |
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Keywords: | co-management resource management surfing surf breaks surfing reserves |
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