A six million euro budget dedicated to shark risk reduction over the period 2015-2020
“The budget for state-funded actions under the shark plan will be increased from 650 000 euros to 1 million euros, or 6 millions of euros on the period 2015-2020”, announced Friday, April 24, the Overseas Department, less than two weeks after the seventh deadly shark attack in Reunion Island since 201. During its visit to La Meeting, the Minister of Overseas, George Pau-Langevin, has announced “eight initiatives” to limit the risk.
Among them, “the State will financially support the municipalities in their investments as” reinforced shark watchdogs”, the safety nets, or even other techniques if their effectiveness is demonstrated. “The goal is to set up a secure site in Saint-Paul as soon as possible this year, and to speed up the completion of the Saint-Pierre projects, Saint-Leu and Trois-Bassin”, explains the ministry.
The State is also committed to “50% increase in sea trips as part of” Cap Sharins “targeted tigers and bulldogs fishing program. by professionals”. “This fishing will be authorized by the prefect inside the marine nature reserve”, says the ministry, adding that it does not, however, under any circumstances eradication, which is unrealistic and contrary to France’s commitment to biodiversity”.
The “punitive” shark fisheries led by the Réunion Committee of Fisheries are pathetic, irresponsible and dangerous
According to the Longitude 181 Nature Association, the “punitive” shark fisheries of the Reunion Committee are pathetic, irresponsible and dangerous – perhaps they have also favored the last two fatal accidents -. In fact, by installing baits – drumlines – in the seaside areas, including the marine reserve, to catch sharks, the Committee of Fisheries attracts sharks from off shore to the coast. Worse, every shark caught on the hook is struggling, attracting even more sharks and reinforcing the risk of an accident. Thus, the slaughter of sharks, which would never have come near Reunion’s coast, can be redoubled … The process is endless, Reunion can not isolate itself from the Indian Ocean!
Far more experienced in this area, Western Australia today renounces its own drum lines deemed ineffective for the protection of users and dangerous for the environment and marine life.
Moreover, the so-called Valo Sharin study, for “Shark recovery”, kills tiger and bulldog sharks under the initial pretext of relaunching human consumption with the stated objective of “regulating” Thus their number and to guarantee the safety of activities like surfing or bathing.
According to the Sea Sheperd association, today we continue to kill sharks whose commercialization will never be allowed, under the pretext today, scientific studies … like the pseudo-scientific hunt that led the Japan in the Antarctic whale sanctuary.
As a reminder, no study has ever demonstrated the safety interest of such fishing trips, evidence of complete disregard for wildlife but also a profound lack of knowledge of the functioning of the marine ecosystem.
