French Pacific Archipelago Divided Over Issue of Hunting Sharks; Environmentalists Criticize the Government’s Fishing Campaign

Sharks have become the number one enemy in the French Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia after killing seven people in the past five years. Experts still cannot explain why sharks arrived unusually high in the bays around the capital Noumea and what prompted them to attack humans in 10 registered incidents since 2018.

The population of the French overseas territory is divided between those who want to solve the problem by force and those who urge action. Some people believe that shark hunting is important to protect swimmers and surfers, while some argue that this action is cruel and unnecessary.

Shark Culling Campaign

The local government of New Caledonia has declared an open season on sharks to make the beaches safe again. Since 2019, authorities have been running fishing campaigns that target sharks, and Mayor Sonia Lagarde decided to step up after several beaches have been closed this year as a precaution.

Government authorities argue that the well-being of their local tourism is at stake, just as beach goers return after years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Noumea's secretary-general Romain Paireau clarifies that they are not anti-shark but need to reduce the risk.

The fishing campaign targets tiger sharks and bulldog sharks, which are considered to be among the most dangerous species. City officials plan to install a giant sea net to protect a 10-hectare area from shark incursions. They believe this action will allow shark hunting outside the parameter to continue at a lower intensity.

Anti-Hunting Opposition

Environmentalists criticized the government's decision, saying that the order to hunt sharks has led to indiscriminate killing and endangers marine life. They point out that these animals are still important components of the ecosystem, and hunting them can negatively affect other forms of marine life.

Martine Cornaille, president of the Ensemble pour la Planete (Together for the Planet, EPLP), claims that the collateral damage among even harmless shark species is unacceptable. According to her, shark culling as a response to attacks on humans is considered irresponsible in environmental terms. Although the city promised to release any shark caught accidentally, Corneille still believes that the collateral deaths of the campaign that has killed 250 tiger and bulldog sharks since 2019 are equivalent to a massacre.

Even the victims of shark attacks have urged the government authorities to back off. According to shark attack victim Brigitte Do, it is often the first response of humans to attack, kill, and show our superiority to everything around us. What humans should do instead is to figure out what is going on, to determine the unusual presence of shark species, and why they arrive in large numbers in Noumea bays.

The indigenous Kanak people in New Caledonia also oppose the anti-shark campaigns of the government. These animals are sacred in their culture, where sharks are integral to the ecosystem.

Legal complaints were filed by the EPLP association against the local authorities, accusing them of promoting shark hunting without an official mandate. They also charge the authorities with violations as they allow hunting in protected areas and removing tiger sharks and bulldog sharks from a list of protected species.