Mark your Calendars! Environmental Benefit Dinner 12.17.2011

Next Saturday (12/17) from 5 to 9 at the Balneario!  There will be great food including a pig roast!  All proceeds will benefit the various programs the local chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is working on.

A 5K Dolphinfish

This is the largest dolphinfish to be tagged with a satellite tag and first ever off of San Juan, PR (photo:Wessley Merten)

On Thursday, November 17th, 2011, at 1:10 pm, the Dolphinfish Research Program achieved another milestone and continued to fulfill its research objectives by successfully tagging and releasing a 51.5" (~45 lb.) male dolphinfish approximately 19.5 miles NNW off of San Juan with a satellite pop-off tag (PSAT).  This is the 12th tag to be deployed on a dolphinfish in the western north Atlantic and the 1st ever off of San Juan, PR; this is the second dolphinfish to be tagged off of Puerto Rico.   This milestone was only achieved through the dedication and assistance of Captain Manuel Botello, Irvin Baez, and Alexis Alfalla, local sport and recreational fishermen, who have been participating in the program on the island since 2008.  Click here to read more about the importance of this research and what researchers hope to discover by deploying a 5 thousand dollar instrument on this fish. 

Going Snorkeling? Check your sunscreen label first!

Coral bleaching linked to sunscreen chemicals:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291012/

Mineral sunblock tends to protect better, is gentler on skin as well as the environment. There are even "reef safe" formulas now designed to protect the habitats we love to enjoy while in the sun.

Check the Evironmental Working Group's site for a full list of eco-conscious sunscreens, updated yearly.

Get Meaningful Stuff Done while on the Computer

We all love the computer. Facebook, cool websites, shows, movies...anything we want is instantly brought in front of our eyes just with a few clicks and taps on the keyboard.

Well here's a way to help the environment, sea turtles, and the island of Puerto Rico, all in the comfort of your own home.

Sign this petition: Protejamos nuestra vida marina y nuestra economia!
** We protect our marine life and our economy!!

It takes 8 seconds, and makes a difference to have a collective voice demanding care and consideration for our oceans.
Las bolsas plásticas son responsables de la muerte de más de 100,000 animales marinos cada año, incluyendo delfines, ballenas y tortugas.

Las bolsas también representan un gasto económico enorme a los comercios, los cuales tienen que pasar los costos a los consumidores.

Plastic Bags are responsible for the death of more than 100,000 marine animals every year. This includes dolphins, whales, and turtles.

Plastic Bags also represent an enormous economic comercial loss, which means the loss is passed on to consumers. Like you!

For more information, check out the Campus Verde website. There have a lot of good information posted about programs such as recycling in your area as well as island events in support of conservation and environmental programs.

As always, use www.translate.google.com for help with Spanish translations.

Enjoy your day! Please pass this petition on to your friends! Use e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter! The more support, the better.

Mahi-Mahi; when it's not on your plate!

Click here to see what Mahi are doing when they are not on your plate.  Enjoy! 

Rincon Chapter Updates

Hello Rincon!
I'd like to share all of the chapter updates from Thursday's meeting. Remember, Surfrider meets at the marina over by Joe's Bar in Club Nautico on the first Thursday of every month. Anyone can come, bring your pets if you'd like, and yes...there's beer!

Down to business:
1. The Fundacion Surfrider Rincon would like to send out a huge "Thank You" to Andrew, our intern that was helping out the chapter last month. His organization skills and help at the clean up were greatly appreciated

2. Our summer time beach clean up was a success! Check out the photos on our Facebook Page
We had a lot of new faces helping the Surfrider team collect trash and debris not only on the beach, but out on the reef.

3. We're planning a big fundraiser...could it be a block party? Keep checking for updates.

4. International Coastal Clean Day is September 17th, 2011. We'll pick a beach to set up our station and spend the rest of the morning collecting trash from our beaches and documenting what we've found. The usual suspects: straws, cups, cigerette butts...
Please join us on this big day where thousands of people around the world will also try to make a difference for the places they love, the ocean and beaches.

5. The World Tour of Body Boarding is coming to Middles in Isabela this season, from the 1st-13th of November. We're planning on participating with inspiration from the work we did at the Rip Curl Pro Search last year. An excellent opportunity to spread awareness to a vast group of people

6. Wess, the previous chapter chair, just received the grant for Marine Debris Removal from NOAA! This is big news for change on the reefs that surround Puerto Rico. Him and a team of volunteers including local businesses are planning to remove parts of a shipwreck on coral on the coast of Cabo Rojo. As part of this grant, we'll be working on a program to re-establish trash and recycling programs on land, so more garbage does not end up in the sea.

This is very big news for Rincon, seeing as I've been spying just a bit too much garbage around. We all have the power to change our surroundings, please join us in the mission to keep things clean, pristine, and better than when we found it.

That's it! Lots of great things to come and more positive work for the environment. Thank you to all of the volunteers and people out there who try to make a difference each day.

Surf Girls in Rincon, PR

This is from way back in late October/November when all the pros were in PR for the Rip Curl Pro 2010. However, the second clip has just been added to the Volcom site and I just had to share it with you all.

Can anyone recognize the popular bar these girls are enjoying their soda at??

Rincon Wave Buoy

Rincon, PR Wave Buoy

Click on this link to read charts of local wave conditions and sea surface temperature, updating every 30 minutes.

Haga clic en este enlace para leer las cartas de las condiciones locales de onda y la temperatura superficial del mar, la actualización cada 30 minutos.

Volunteer Event June 4th!

We're putting on a land clean up of sorts...with the understanding that everything eventually ends up in the ocean. Rincon needs some t.l.c. (Tender Loving Care) and it is our duty as residents of the town to take responsibility for the ridiculous amount of trash that is mounting up on the sides of roads, in river banks, and along the beaches. Everyone knows how beautiful Rincon is...lets try to keep it that way!

So, June 4th, Saturday morning, 8 am, rise and shine with the Surfrider crew and meet us at the balneario (public beach) for a meeting. We'll then move into teams and cover 4 main areas of Rincon that need our help:

1) behind Econo, the local grocery store
2) Around Edward's grocery store into the Stella Area, there is a watershed there, leading to the sea
3) Near Maria's beach right over the little bridge before heading up 413
4) The area on rt. 429 by the Rincon Ocean Villa

Any volunteers would be greatly appreciated. We have trash bags and trash picker-uppers! Please wear sneakers as I've noticed there is a lot of broken glass around lately.



Así, 04 de junio, la mañana del sábado, 8 de la mañana, levantarse y brillar con el equipo de Surfrider a conocernos en el balneario (playa pública) para una reunión.A continuación, voy a pasar a los equipos y cubrir cuatro áreas principales de Rincón que necesitan nuestra ayuda:

1. Detrás de Econo
2. Alrededor Edward's Co-Op en la barrio de Stella, es un hito que, lo que lleva al mar
3. Cerca de la playa de María la derecha por el puente poco antes de la partida hasta 413
4. Cerca la playa y carr. 429

Cualquier voluntarios sería muy apreciada. Tenemos bolsas de basura y parte superior de la basura-selector! Por favor, use zapatillas de deporte que he notado que hay un montón de cristales rotos alrededor de los últimos tiempos.

Local Volunteer Event

Hello All Surfrider enthusiasts!
This isn't a Surfrider event per say...but everyone loves a clean beach right?
I figured I'd post about other activists interested in the environment for others to get involved and perhaps feel inspired.

There's a beach clean up scheduled for May 21st, 8 am to noon, in Aguada, our neighbor beach town.
Gloves, water, bags and other items will be provided.

The area from Olajas Bar and Grill to Plazita de Cruz de Colón, along the beach and the street.

This clean up is organized and sponsored by the Escuela de Bomba (Bomba Dancing School) de Mayaguez.

Come out and clean up a beautiful beach!
All the help is much appreciated.

Cars from Bananas and Pineapples

Hey Puerto Rico, this could be your next big thing...

With all of the guineos y pina around, this could work. Cars made from fruit!

Fiesta para la Reserva Marina Tres Palmas

Tres Palmas Marine Reserve Party!
April 6th!
We love the ocean and we love to party!

Free Food (Get there early, 7 pm) Drum Bums jamm'n tunes, raffles, prizes, and fun.

Rum Shack, Wednesday, April 6th at 7 pm.

All proceeds go directly towards the non-profit organization (NGO) that helps keep Tres Palmas clean, helps with outreach and education, and new conservation activities in the reserve.

Me Encanta Puerto Rico

Protect what you love.

Check out more updates on the Surfrider Rincon Facebook Page: Fundacion Surfrider Rincon

The Volcom Girl's Surf Team in Puerto Rico! Can you spot where they're at?

Chapter Updates

Our March 11th party was a success! Thank you & Gracias to all of the wonderful people who came out to the Rumshack to support our local Surfrider Chapter. According to our records, this event was the second best of all time in terms of donations received! How amazing and generous Rincon is!

The Supertones rocked it and we earned lots of cash with our raffles and 50/50 gamble. I myself had a blast hanging out with members, locals, and tourists alike. Everyone seemed to come together in positivity for a good cause & it felt great.

Just so you know, all money collected goes to our own local chapter. We currently use this money to fund projects such as water quality testing & event planning. Have ideas you'd like to share with us? Come on down to our monthly meeting, next Thursday April 7th @ 7 pm, in the pavilion located next to Club Nautico and Joe's Bar. Our office is on the second level, but we usually meet downstairs to drink a few brews and talk about upcoming plans & general love of the ocean.

Thanks again for the continued support.

March 11th Fundraiser

Surfrider Fundraiser March 11th @ The Rum Shack!

The Supertones! Great Band with old school surf music that will rock your socks off.


Who: Surfrider volunteers & The Supertones performing + You and all your friends
What: A party and fundraiser for the ocean we love & surf in
When: March 11th 7-11 pm
Where: The Rum Shack en Puntas, Rincon, PR.
Why: Because who doesn't love a party??


We have complimentary "happy hour" buffet. Raffles, prizes, music, friends, fun, tropical breezes, surf photo slide shows on the big screen, and of course, the swimming pool at the Rum Shack...always a good time.

$5.00 suggested donation. We'd love to see you there!!

Rip Curl Planet Interview

Your local Surfrider chapter worked with Rip Curl and their environmental program entitled "Rip Curl Planet" at this year's Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 in Isabela, Puerto Rico. What an opportunity to work with a huge sponsor for something local. We tried our hardest to ensure that the dunes of middles beach were protected from people standing on them and smashing the vegetation that keeps the sand in place. As they say, "no dunes, no beach," and we love our beach!

Here is a follow up on Rip Curl Planet and the work they're continuing around the globe to ensure sustainability through their company. I find it interesting that outside sources are investigating what exactly companies plan to do to help. As you may or may not have heard, there is a bit of "green-washing" happening that can mislead consumers into purchasing things with hopes to benefit the planet in some way...and yet that doesn't always happen. Speaking of which, if you'd like to do your own detective work on the "green-ness" of your favorite companies or products, check out www.greenopia.com.

I think this interviewer, Howard, as it states, did a great job of asking specific questions regarding Rip Curl Planet's plans, ideals, and products. See for yourself: Rip Curl Sustainability Interview.

I found this article through an excellent website that I visit often, the Greener Blue.

Beach Clean Up at Parking lots and the case of the straw devils.

The gang at last weekend's clean up. Viva Surfrider Rincon, PR!

My entire trash bag was just straws!!!!!!

So the beach clean up on Saturday went Ok. Not our most populated clean up but that's fine. We managed to get a lot of work done while watching the waves.

But what we've discovered as a group is that straws suck!
Yep, straws. However fun you think they might be, they are not when they're sticking up out of the sand, littering your local beach.

So, the group would love to encourage others to start thinking about straws a little more.

Do I really need to drink out of a straw with every cocktail at the bar?

Can I pass on the straw some pincho vendors give out with my soda?

Can I re-use my straw?

Hmmmm...

What about local vendors and bars/restaurants?
Maybe we can find a way to work together on this issue. Submit your ideas, comments, and suggestions here or on our Facebook Page, Fundacion Surfrider Rincon.

Surfrider Foundation Rincon Chapter in El Coqui Magazine

There is an article about the work Surfrider did during the Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 Contest up at Middles Beach this past November in El Coqui Magazine. In the January/February issue, located in stores and hotels around town now.

Click on the link, El Coqui Rincon, to read the article or you can read the magazine for free around town. Why not take it to read on the beach?


Here's a shot at a spanish translation. I apologize if it isn't totally correct.

Hay un artículo sobre el trabajo Surfrider hizo durante el Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 Concurso de arriba en el medio de la playa el pasado noviembre en El Coquí Magazine. En la edición de enero y febrero, que se encuentra en las tiendas y hoteles en la ciudad ahora.

Haga clic en el enlace, El Coqui Rincón, para leer el artículo o puede leer la revista de forma gratuita por la ciudad. ¿Por qué no para leer en la playa?

Water Testing in Rincon

Un estudiante de MAS Integrated School esta procesando una muestra de agua.
A student from MAS Integrated School is processing a water sample.
Part of the last volunteer event on Friday February 4th, 2011

At our last meeting, we discussed what exactly has been going on with the Blue Water Task Force, our local program run by a group of volunteers that helps test the Western coast of Puerto Rico's water quality.

If you'd like more information regarding the testing, check out their blog site. It is a little side branch from the Surfrider Rincon's site.

http://bwtfrincon.blogspot.com/

A special thanks to all of the local contributors that have helped fund this important program. A little goes a long way when helping our oceans. If you'd like to make a donation to the water quality testing program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org. Same goes for volunteers, if any one is interested, please don't be shy! Our office is located in the Marina, right above Club Nautico.

Surfrider Beach Clean Up

Hello All!

We have another beach clean up planned.
Saturday, February 19th, 2011 @ Parking lots (Sandy Beach)
8 am -11 am.

Be there or be Square : )

Bring gloves if you've got them. Lots of stuff to pick up including straws, plastic cups, and beer bottles from the bars and restaurants near by. While you're picking up trash, let's think about ways we can use less of these products in our everyday life. It is all connected.
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

Love to see all of your smiling faces there. Maybe even after wards we'll be able to surf.
Here's hoping!

Well this is good news:

Off-shore wind energy a go!

How do you feel about harnessing wind power for energy? Post comments here or on our Facebook Page: Fundacion Surfrider de Rincon.