In an effort to promote sustainable development of the
sport of surfing and surf tourism, the Niu Ailan Surfriders
Alliance (NASA) manage and oversee Surf Management Plans
in four areas of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea.
- Kavieng Area
- East Coast New Ireland
- Lavongai (New Hanover)
- Central New Ireland
There is surf in other areas of New Ireland without
Management Plans in place, and they are free to explore
and utilize, but it is essential that good sense prevail
and residing communities be approached and give permission
to Go for It before you jump in the water. Papua New
Guinea acknowledges Customary Rights to Reefs and best
not to simply assume, but to check first.
The Management Plans are essentially a surf quota system
with prescribed base fees and are not exclusive to New
Ireland, as other forms exist in other parts of Papua
New Guinea.
The Management Plans have been developed to:
- Manage the number of surf tourists at any one time
at the areas covered by the plans to ensure a quality
surf experience for visitors and locals,
- Ensure recognition of traditional and customary
rights over reefs in surf areas,
- Provide for levies which support resource custodians
and local clubs,
- Protect the surfing and marine environment, whilst
fostering marine and tourism awareness
- Foster community development initiatives and good
relations
- Promote the expansion of surf tourism into other
areas of the province, so as to spread the activity
into rural areas, where involvement and benefits are
more profound.
Fees payable for the 2012-2013 surf season (1st November
2012 to 30th April 2013) is AU$10 per surfer per day
payable to NASA.
In addition to the NASA Fees, there is a once only
Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG) levy
of AU$50 per visiting surfer to Papua New Guinea.
NASA recognises that the communities who live in areas
close or adjacent to surf breaks have a traditional
right over the reefs in surf areas. These Customary
Rights are acknowledged and identified in various forms
of PNG Legislation.
Under Management Plans, NASA collects a levy from visiting
surfers which is then dispersed between the resident
communities and NASA. These levies are used by NASA
for a range of initiatives including but not limited
to the development of local surfing, acquisition of
equipment and other member needs, attendance and participation
in National & International competition, training
programmes and club facilities, community level awareness
in terms of tourism and the marine environment, community
development initiatives, identification and recognition
of community structures and working with the various
groups forming these structures, along with other forms
of support in regards to sport and personal development.
Surf Quotas have been set for each of the Management
Plan areas.
- Kavieng Area maximum 20 visiting surfers
- East Coast maximum 25 visiting surfers
- Lavongai maximum 15 visiting surfers
- Central New Ireland maximum 20 visiting surfers
A visiting Surfer is defined as a surfer who does not
reside in New Ireland Province on a permanent basis.
Quotas do not include local surfers, who may be expatriates
that permanently reside in New Ireland.
Under the scope of existing Surf Management Plans,
there is the potential for 80 surfers in the designated
Surf Management Areas. This will invariably change over
the time, as other surf resources are identified as
suitable, and all necessary community and access agreements
have been agreed and approved by the relevant stakeholders.
It is up to each individual surfer to ensure that they
are pre-booked into the relevant Surf Quota(s), prior
to arrival in New Ireland, and preferably prior to the
finalisation of their travel arrangements. Whether you
are arriving by plane, yacht or space-ship, it is up
to you to ensure you have pre-booked your space in the
line-up to avoid disappointment.
Surfers can book into the quota directly with the Niu
Ailan Surf Alliance, or through one of the SAPNG-endorsed
Surf Operators or their agents.
Surfers must pre-book and pre-pay consecutive full
surf days under the quota
Prior to travel, you will be issued with a Surf Voucher.
This voucher will be issued through your agent, your
surf operator, or NASA, depending on who your surf quota
booking was made through. This voucher is essentially
your pass to show to the locals at the breaks, so that
they know that you are booked in and paid up.
If you have arrived in New Ireland / Kavieng and are
not booked into any of the plans, you will need to contact
NASA to check on availability. If any of the areas are
not at maximum capacity then you may log into the plan
and pay fees accordingly. If the surf quotas are full,
then you will not be permitted to surf within the Management
Plan areas until a quota position is available.
It is acknowledged that visiting surfers may require
to book into more than one Surf Plan Quota over the
course of their visit to New Ireland.
The quota for each Surf Managed Area is non-transferable
to another Surf Managed Area after arrival in New Ireland,
due to surf quality or size or for any other reason,
unless there is availability under another Surf Plan Managed
Area.
It is possible to book into more than one Surf Management
Plan Quota on any given day, provided that space is
available under each Plan. Fees for each plan must be
paid accordingly (ie if you book into 2 quotas, you
pay 2 fees).
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