How valuable is your wave?

Businesses close to famous surf spots know it, surfers know it but it seems the fact that a wave can create, boost or regenerate a local economy is lost on everyone else (look at what happened to Mundaka as a case in point). So Save the Waves have done a "Surfomomics" study of Mavericks to find out the economic benefits to Half Moon bay by having a famous wave on their doorstep:

" Save The Waves Coalition announced the preliminary results from its second 'Surfonomics' study, a measure of the economic value of the world-famous big-wave break at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, California. The study found that the surfing site and area has an estimated economic value to visitors of nearly $24 million per year, based on approximately 420,000 annual visitors.

“Mavericks is an iconic, world-renowned surf break that’s truly unique,” said Save The Waves executive director Dean LaTourrette. “This study provides evidence of not just its environmental value, but of its economic value as well. This further reinforces the notion that it and other special coastal areas around the world need and deserve to be protected.”