The Sharks joined forces with the Surfrider Foundation this week with NRL squad member Scott Sorensen visiting Cronulla South Primary School in support of the campaign to "Respect the Sea and be Plastic Free".
Sorensen was on hand at Cronulla South to judge a competition being organised by the Cronulla Branch of the Surfrider Foundation, with nine local primary schools taking part.
Students at each of the nine schools participated in a colouring contest, with the winning entry to be used as the logo on reusable bags to be sold across the community, with Cronulla South through their School Captains and Student Representative Council creating the campaign to 'ban the bag'.
As a member of the voting panel, Sorensen was joined by local surfing identity and Cronulla Chamber of Commerce member Mark Aprilovic, with the initiative also supported by Cronulla MP Mark Speakman and Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce.
The Sharks are not only supporting the cause in helping to judge the competition, with the football coaching staff crew training for the Molokai Challenge Outrigger Canoe Race in Hawaii later in the year also raising funds as well as awareness for the Surfrider Foundation.
The staff groups, including Sharks NRL head coach Shane Flanagan, Physical Performance Manager Andrew Gray and assistant coaches John Morris and Jim Dymock, have been training for the Molokai race, scheduled for October, since the start of the current NRL season.
About the Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation Australia is a registered not for profit sea-roots organisation dedicated to the protection of Australia's waves and beaches through Conservation, Activism, Research and Education or C.A.R.E.
Their purpose is to protect oceans, waves and beaches through C.A.R.E., while the Mission & Vision is to inspire an engaged surfing and coastal community who are passionate about protecting oceans, waves and beaches.
A little over 30 years ago, three passionate surfers in Malibu, California, created the Surfrider Foundation USA, which sparked a global movement of surfers and ocean enthusiasts to stand up for their coasts and local marine environments.
Today, the Surfrider Foundation movement has grown to 18 countries around the world.
Surfrider Foundation Australia (SFA) was founded in 1991, largely in response to poor water quality issues along Australia's east coast. Local surfers, being at the forefront of water quality, began recruiting volunteers for a series of demonstrations and actions to persuade decision makers to take action on this ongoing issue.
Approaching its 25th year of operation, SFA has grown to over 13 volunteer branches and many more volunteer beach representatives tackling local and national coastal environmental issues at a sea-roots level around Australia.
