Should you be charged to SURF!!??

Question

Where i live there is a landowner who is charging people $350 to surf, fish, dive, pick opihi, and throw net. He owns the land above the coastline, but not the coastline. Do you think this is right? Now the locals(including myself) can no longer surf our waves because we can't afford it!!!!!

Answer 1

thats wrong. The ocean and coastline belong to all people.

What next? Someones going to claim the piece of sky above their house?

Answer 2

I believe that in the US no one can own anything farther out than the mean high water mark.  Many states also have laws governing rights of way to the beach.  Check with your local Surfrider chapter , they should be able to give you straight o what your rights are.

I seem to remember another case going on right now in Hawaii where a neighborhood put a gate across the entrance to their 'hood to keep surfers out.  They claim to  have done it to protect property values due to littering, public nudity,etc.  Many times these groups have legitimate complaints when people do not  conduct themselves properly.  I know I wouldn't want someone stripping out of a wet suit in front of my house (unless they did it in a towel) and then peeing in my bushes.

Answer 3

If he owns the land then he has a right. I suggest to surf at a different place where he does not own the land so he can't charge you.

Answer 4

no its not fair its not their beach its every ones although with a lot of $$$$  they can :-(

Answer 5

IS THAT EVEN LEGAL?!?!

island Boy where is this place?!

vacation land ?? this is wrong >:-|

definately not right.

Answer 6

I've never heard of that in the US before.  I have heard stories of people going out of the country to go surfing and having to pay to surf their beach. But never in the US. you should ask your local authorities or go somewhere else.