La Réunion Island, Indian Ocean. La Réunion (previously Île Bourbon) is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island. Photo courtesy: © Isabelle Duflo
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The mayor of a town on Réunion Island has been forced to withdraw decision to pay fishermen to hunt and kill sharks because it contravenes French conservation law.
Conservationists estimate that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year. An Australian study from 2011 which found that the increase in shark attacks were related to an increase in human population: more people going to beaches, an increase in water-based sports, or visiting areas that were previously isolated. “When it comes to shark attacks, surfers and swimmers tend to be more at risk but it’s important to remember that these people are entering the habitat of a wild animal…”
Read Full Article, Guardian UK
Réserve Naturelle Marine St Leu, Ile de La Réunion
La Réserve marine de la Réunion se défend d’être le garde-manger des requins, France 24
France to hunt sharks after Reunion island attacks, Reuters
Aug. 6th- France will hire professional fishermen to kill some 20 sharks off the Indian Ocean island of Reunion this week in an effort to understand the reasons for a series of attacks in the surfing hotspot.
Réunion Shark Controversy, Surfer Magazine
Over the course of the past 13 months, three surfers have been killed by sharks on the island. The news of the latest attack has reignited a debate on the island surrounding a proposal to pay local fisherman to kill sharks in the marine reserve.The marine reserve on the island was put in place five years ago to protect the coral reefs that surround the popular tourist destination…
