Photo Courtesy of Surfrider Sebastian InletIt is encouraging to see that surfing is becoming more respected these days. Surfers are now featured in car, credit card, and clothing ads. We're not considered bums anymore, but doctors, lawyers, teachers, and engineers. But in order to surf we need clean water to surf in, and that is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Clean oceans benefit not only surfers, but fishermen, divers, kayakers, seafood lovers, and tourists who flock to Florida's beaches by the millions each year. Preventing pollution on our coasts also raise property values and our quality of life.

If we do nothing, eventually beaches will be closed due to high levels of toxins in the water. That already happens frequently in California, where surfers are told not to enter the water for 72 hours after it rains. And in our own state, the excess nitrogen feeds red tide, potentially killing off marine life and beachside tourism. What causes pollution? There are many culprits, but let's start with the casino boats and other ships going on day-cruises.

Photo Courtesy of Surfrider Sebastian InletMost casino cruises go just far enough out to sea so their patrons can gamble, just three miles to international waters on the Atlantic and a few miles farther on the Gulf. Each year they dump millions of gallons of partially treated sewage into the sea. "Partially treated" means they chop up the toilet feces and sink dregs and then douse it with chlorine to ‘disinfect' it, leaving a slurry filled with biomedical waste, poisons from cleaning products, and viruses. Former Chairman of the House turned day cruise lobbyist, Ralph Haben, claims it's "almost clean enough to drink." This is dumped four times a day off Port Canaveral, and twice from the Port of Palm Beach, Clearwater, Jacksonville, Madeira Beach, Key Largo, Port Everglades, and Ponce Inlet. 365 days a year, thousands of gallons daily. The owner of six of these ships is Suncruz Casinos. The largest ship, holding 1,800 passengers, is Sterling Casinos based in Cape Canaveral.

It's legal for them to do it, too, unless we speak out. Rep. Bob Allen (R) from Brevard County and Sen. Mike Bennett (R) from Bradenton have co-sponsored the Clean Ocean Act. This bill would make the day cruise ships pay to pump out their sewage to a shore-side treatment facility. It also requires each ship to register with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and levies fines for dumping within the three mile limit. The bill is a great starting point for ensuring that the sewage is treated to a point where it's as clean as reclaimed water.

So what can you do? Call, email, or fax your city and state leaders, asking them to support the Clean Ocean Act, HB57 - SB444. The Surfrider Foundation has an action alert that will copy your letter to every representative responsible for passing this bill through their committee. Then write in to the newspapers and news stations and voice your opposition to these greedy polluters. The future of Florida's coastline is at stake. Whether you surf or not, if you live here or not, it's time to help save our ocean.

** Greg Gordon is a teacher, surfer, and member of the Surfrider Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to protecting the world's oceans, waves, and beaches for all people through conservation, activism, research, and education. Over the last six months, he has led three protests against the day cruise ships in Cape Canaveral, West Palm Beach, and Madeira Beach, trying to raise public awareness of the unethical practice of dumping sewage off the coast. To get involved, visit: http://Surfrider.org/sebastianinlet.