2016 Summary of the Shark Fishing Program in Réunion Island

Helmut Nickel (mail), Shark Year Magazine,
01. January 2018

In 2016, a total of 85 specimens were killed in the fishing program for shark hazard mitigation off the western coast of Reunion Island – 49 of them were bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and 36 were tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). The details on each specimen are provided in Table 1. below.

The catch numbers have almost doubled in comparison to the 47 specimens wich were landed in the previous year (see 2015 summary here).

A 4,40 metres long tiger shark was the biggest specimen in the 2016 season. The catch of the female tiger occurred in Saint Paul Bay in late March.

The biggest bull shark, which measured 3,10 metres in length, was also caught in the waters of Saint Paul Bay in early August.

Only a minority (20%) of the shark catches consisted of relatively small  specimens, with a body length of under 2,50 metres (see fig.2).

November turned out to be the most productive month with 13 captures (8 tiger and 5 bull sharks), while the lowest catch rate was recorded in May (1 bull shark).

Réunion Island – Shark Incidents in 2016

Only the following non-fatal shark incident was reported in 2016 (see also here):

Date: 27. August 2016
Location: Boucan Canot Beach
Victim: Male (21)
Activity: Bodyboarding
Injuries: Bitten on left arm, right foot severed
Involved shark: Unknown