As one of the world’s longest-running professional surfing events, healthy oceans play a central role at the Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill – without this, there is no surfing. There is no Ballito Pro. There is no us. That’s why ocean conservation initiatives continue to drive this winter holiday event, with the 57th edition taking place from 4 to 18 July 2026 at Willard Beach, KwaDukuza.
This year, the event is introducing a powerful environmental initiative to tackle one of the ocean’s most deadly yet least visible threats: ghost fishing gear. Known as Stop the Strangle, the initiative is combating ghost gear -abandoned or discarded fishing nets, ropes, lines and traps – which continue to entangle and kill marine animals long after they have been lost at sea.
“As surfers, event organisers and ocean lovers, we understand that protecting our coastline is an essential part of our daily lives,” said Collette Bundy, Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill Festival Organiser. “Our long-held conservation initiatives, such as Litter4Tokens and the WESSA Blue Flag and Green Coast projects, are thriving, which is why we felt it right to introduce Stop the Strangle.
“This gives visitors another practical way to become part of the solution while learning about one of the greatest threats facing marine life today. We’re proud to work with our conservation partners to use the Ballito Pro platform to drive real environmental action.”
The campaign is being rolled out by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) through its Green Coast Programme, in partnership with Blue Flag South Africa, KwaDukuza Municipality, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, and the Strandloper Project.
FAST FACTS: THE GHOST GEAR CRISIS
- 10% of all marine pollution is made up of ghost fishing gear
- 70-80% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is estimated to be fishing gear
- 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear enter the world’s oceans every year
- 100,000+ marine mammals die annually through entanglement
- 1 million+ seabirds, turtles and sharks are killed every year
How Does Stop the Strangle Work?
Throughout the Ballito Pro, visitors can engage with interactive educational displays, view recovered ghost gear collected from South African coastlines, and learn how abandoned fishing equipment continues to impact marine ecosystems.
The initiative will also establish collection points and encourage community members to:
- Collect and safely remove ghost gear found along beaches
- Report larger ghost gear items washed ashore
- Upload data that contributes to a growing national monitoring database
- Join WESSA’s network of coastal champions helping monitor local shorelines
- Raise awareness about the impacts of marine pollution
Recovered ghost gear will not just be discarded. Where possible, materials will be repurposed into educational exhibits and awareness installations. The long-term vision is to create South Africa’s largest community-based coastal conservation network, capable of supporting broader environmental efforts, including Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring, anti-poaching awareness, and environmental incident response.
Building on a Strong Conservation Legacy
Stop the Strangle joins an established suite of environmental initiatives synonymous with the Ballito Pro. A major feature of the 2026 programme is the return of the Litter4Tokens Recycling and Ocean Waste Activation, delivered in partnership with Litter4Tokens, TrashTalk.io, Dolphin Coast Waste Management, Ballito UIP, PETCO, Brownie Points and the Presidential Employment Stimulus Fund.
Throughout the festival, dedicated teams will collect, sort and track waste through the LitterHub and TrashTalk.io platforms, providing measurable environmental impact through recycling and carbon mitigation reporting. This dynamic recycling-for-tokens model has helped create numerous jobs and feed local families while preventing ocean-bound waste.
This year, every competing surfer will receive a specially branded Ballito Pro Mermaid Tear Catcher. As these athletes travel to surf destinations around the world, they will be encouraged to continue collecting nurdles and contributing to an international citizen science project while protecting the marine ecosystem.
IMPACT BY NUMBERS: Litter4Tokens
- 38 collection and substation sites nationwide
- Supporting 2 564+ registered waste collectors
- 36 kg+ of nurdles removed from South African beaches
- 2,564+ registered waste collectors supported nationally
- 1.4 million+ individual plastic pellets prevented from entering marine ecosystems
- 5.2 million kg+ of recyclable waste recovered by Litter4Tokens
How You Can Help…and Win!
Visitors are encouraged to participate in the popular Mermaid Tear Catcher Nurdle Education and Clean-Up Competition by purchasing a Mermaid Tear Catcher and helping remove nurdles – plastic micro-pellets often called ‘mermaid tears’ – from local beaches.
By participating in the clean-up challenge, visitors stand a chance to win exciting prizes, including an environmentally conscious surfboard manufactured using recycled materials and recycled glass, luxury game reserve experiences and other sponsored rewards.
Visitors can also engage with the WESSA Blue Flag and Green Coast environmental education stands, learn more about marine conservation challenges, and spread awareness about protecting South Africa’s coastline.
Through a partnership between O’Neill and WILDOCEANS, visitors will also have the chance to buy an incredible O’Neill x WILDOCEANS T-shirt from the retail cabin. There are six different styles to choose from, with 10% of the proceeds going to the WILDOCEANS programme to conserve ocean life and ecosystems.
More Festival Fun at Ballito Pro 2026
Beyond conservation, visitors can enjoy a packed programme of sporting, entertainment and community activities, including:
- Surf & Turf Pros Tag Team featuring surfers, soccer stars and rugby personalities
- Ballito Skate Comp Presented by O’Neill and Red Bull
- Red Bull BMX activations, bike displays and aerial entertainment
- FIFA World Cup fan zone screenings through the Behind Bafana Bafana programme
- Ballito Pro Music Concerts Presented by Corona
- After Dark entertainment experiences
- Volleyball and beach sports activations
- Jive With Jen children’s programme
- Tatami Judo Academy Beach Judo Tournament
- Retail village featuring food, fashion and lifestyle brands
- Community and Tourism Experiences
- iLembe Surf Development Fundraiser
- Coastal and cultural tourism experiences showcasing KwaDukuza and the greater iLembe region.
The festival forms part of a broader initiative between the KwaDukuza Municipality, World Surf League, Surfing South Africa, and key public and private partners, aimed at driving youth development, tourism growth, and sustainable coastal activation.
Keep Updated on All the Action
Don’t miss any of the action at the 2026 Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill Festival! #waveofunity #igagazi lobumbano/Lobunye
Watch LIVE The Challenger Series will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and the WSL’s YouTube channel. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
To find out more about The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill festival programme, visit:
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