A controversial shark cull in the French Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has been suspended by a court, citing the lack of scientific evidence and the cultural significance of the species.
Cull sparked by fatal attacks
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The authorities in the south of the archipelago had authorized the hunting of bull and tiger sharks in three coastal reserves, after a series of attacks on humans that killed seven people in the past five years.
The most recent victim was an Australian tourist who was killed by a shark in February, three weeks after another swimmer was badly injured at the same spot.
The cull was intended to reduce the risk of shark attacks and to reassure the local population and tourists.
However, it faced strong opposition from environmental and indigenous groups, who argued that it was ineffective, harmful, and disrespectful.
Court cites lack of studies and cultural value
Last May, New Caledonia's administrative court suspended the cull, saying there was insufficient information about the size of the shark populations, the environmental impact of removing them, and the measure's effectiveness in preventing attacks.
The court also noted that the sharks have a sacred status in the culture of the Kanak people, the indigenous inhabitants of the archipelago, who see them as an integral part of the ecosystem.
The court's decision was welcomed by the ecologist group Together For The Planet (EPLP), which had filed a legal action to stop the cull.
The group's president, Martine Cornaille, said that the cull was "environmentally irresponsible" and that 60% of the sharks that were killed were in the nature reserves. She also said that the group plans to challenge the shark hunting outside the reserves.
The authorities did not immediately respond to the court's ruling or comment on their plans regarding the shark issue.
Some experts have suggested alternative solutions, such as installing shark nets, educating the public, and monitoring shark movements.
The rise in shark attacks in New Caledonia remains poorly explained, according to shark scientist and behavioral ecologist Johann Mourier.
He says attacks tend to be cyclical "with a lot of consecutive biting incidents and then nothing for several years".
Mourier says there is no data on shark populations around Nouméa, the capital city where most attacks occurred.
A study that began in 2018 was stopped before it could be completed because of an attack. He says any statistics may be misleading as the sharks most associated with attacks, especially tiger sharks, regularly move around and change habitat, with some going as far as Australia and New Zealand.
Mourier also says that culling sharks is not an effective way to prevent attacks, as it does not target the individual sharks that are responsible and may disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.
He says that other factors, such as the presence of prey, sewage, fishing, or climate change, may influence the behavior of sharks and increase the likelihood of encounters with humans.
Shark Nets Spark Controversy
The authorities have also planned to install a 758-metre metal net at Baie des Citrons, one of the most popular beaches in Nouméa, to act as an underwater fence and prevent sharks from swimming too close to the shore. The net is due to be installed by October.
However, this measure has also provoked criticism from environmentalists and locals, who say that the net will damage the coral reef, entangle and kill other marine animals, and pose a risk to swimmers and divers.
They also say that the net will not guarantee the safety of the beachgoers, as sharks may still find ways to bypass it or be attracted by the trapped animals.
Many residents, like Aline Guémas, who swims at the beach every day, are opposed to the net and want to preserve the natural beauty and biodiversity of the lagoon.
She says that people who frequent the waters know the risks and do not want any shark nets to be installed.
Some alternatives to the net have been proposed, such as using acoustic devices to deter or attract sharks, creating artificial reefs to provide habitats for sharks away from the shore, or implementing a shark alert system to warn the public of the presence of sharks.
However, these solutions have not been adopted by the authorities so far.
