Stab Magazine | Reunion Island surfers will guinea pig shark-prevention!

Live Now: "Horse" — A surf film by James Kates starring Noa Deane — streaming exclusively on Stab Premium.

359 Views

Reunion Island surfers will guinea pig shark-prevention!

Words by Craig Jarvis | All photos Red Bull Content Pool/ Ryan Miller/Redbull.com.surfing February 14, 2015: A 20-year-old girl was swimming in shallow waters off Reunion Island when she was attacked by a shark. She died from her injuries, making it the most recent of 14 attacks on the island since February 2011, and the sixth fatal attack in that period. Swimming and surfing is officially banned in Reunion Island waters until February 2016. But, local surfers may return to the water soon as part of a very large government experiment, the first of its kind, which’ll hopefully keep sharks at bay while they surf. I know, right? Read on. There’s a council called the Reunion Shark Risk Reduction Committee, and they, together with the Reunion Prefect (a State Representative) and the Reunion Region President, have decided to make “2015 a year of transition, with the gradual recovery of activities that are currently under shark risk.” Read: They want surfing and swimming to be safe, and cool again. “The object of the experiment is to evaluate the relevance of different risk reduction devices,” said the Prefect, Dominique Sorain. The ‘high surf ‘areas that have been targeted as experimental areas are the communes of Saint Paul, Saint Leu and Saint Pierre. Jules went to Reunion Island in 2012, one year into the period when attacks really kicked it up. He spent much of his time out of the water, tho. The local municipalities will test protection devices in certain geos. There’s talk of shark nets, drumlines, fishing lines specifically baited for shark capture, shark spotters, shark vigilantes (guys in the water with spear guns), electrical barriers, acoustic monitoring and boats in the water. Like surfing’s very own Fort Knox, with a range of 300 meters. At this stage the experiments are going to be strictly controlled, and will be for the benefit of surfers from the local clubs, who’ll be able to train for upcoming surf events. In other words, surfers will be used as guinea pigs, but they’re thrilled because they’re going surfing, and they’ll have every kind of protection. Local surfer, businessman, and Stab’s Reunion go-to man Davey Stolk is cautiously upbeat. “With the news of the plans to protect the surf spots of Reunion, most of the surfers that I know and others in the surf and tourist industry are optimistically cautious that maybe at last we can put behind us what can best be described as a living nightmare that we have endured for the past three years,“ says Davey. Imagine watching these kinda waves every week, unridden, inaccessible, due to the constant spectre of violent death. That’s been the reality on Reunion Island. Julian swoops, 2012. “It’s totally dependent on what methods are employed, as this will determine the level of security obtainable,” he added. “Drum lines have, to a limited extent, been proven reliable, but the jury is still completely out when it comes to the efficiency of the other methods that have been thus far mooted, like the shark vigilantes, and the proposed electrical barriers.” Unsurprisingly, Reunion Island has seen a steady decline in general tourism as well as the obvious surf tourism over the last three years. The sensationalised horror story of the 15-year-old girl who was mutilated in shallow water made mainstream press the world over. Subsequently, surf shops have closed down, surf schools no longer exist, and hotels and other accommodations that catered for traveling surfers have all but ceased to exist. In three years a booming surf industry has come to a grinding halt. The goal is to eventually work out the best methods of safety and of keeping the sharks out, and making Reunion Island a surfing destination as well as a popular tourist destination, as it was in the past. So confident is everyone that the experiment is going to work that there’s already a surf contest booked for 2017 at St. Leu. The budget that’s been government-approved and put aside for the experimental exercise is Euro 10 000 000 (AU$14Mil). Let’s hope that sort of spend sees some results. If you’re going to go to one of the world’s sharkiest spots, go there with an aim that’ll keep you out of the water for most of it. Like Jules, who went there to stomp a 720. And got very close.

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Words by Craig Jarvis | All photos Red Bull Content Pool/ Ryan Miller/Redbull.com.surfing

February 14, 2015: A 20-year-old girl was swimming in shallow waters off Reunion Island when she was attacked by a shark. She died from her injuries, making it the most recent of 14 attacks on the island since February 2011, and the sixth fatal attack in that period.

Swimming and surfing is officially banned in Reunion Island waters until February 2016. But, local surfers may return to the water soon as part of a very large government experiment, the first of its kind, which’ll hopefully keep sharks at bay while they surf. I know, right? Read on.

There’s a council called the Reunion Shark Risk Reduction Committee, and they, together with the Reunion Prefect (a State Representative) and the Reunion Region President, have decided to make “2015 a year of transition, with the gradual recovery of activities that are currently under shark risk.” Read: They want surfing and swimming to be safe, and cool again.

“The object of the experiment is to evaluate the relevance of different risk reduction devices,” said the Prefect, Dominique Sorain.

The ‘high surf ‘areas that have been targeted as experimental areas are the communes of Saint Paul, Saint Leu and Saint Pierre.

Jules_Reunion_2

Jules went to Reunion Island in 2012, one year into the period when attacks really kicked it up. He spent much of his time out of the water, tho.

The local municipalities will test protection devices in certain geos. There’s talk of shark nets, drumlines, fishing lines specifically baited for shark capture, shark spotters, shark vigilantes (guys in the water with spear guns), electrical barriers, acoustic monitoring and boats in the water. Like surfing’s very own Fort Knox, with a range of 300 meters.

At this stage the experiments are going to be strictly controlled, and will be for the benefit of surfers from the local clubs, who’ll be able to train for upcoming surf events. In other words, surfers will be used as guinea pigs, but they’re thrilled because they’re going surfing, and they’ll have every kind of protection.

Local surfer, businessman, and Stab’s Reunion go-to man Davey Stolk is cautiously upbeat. “With the news of the plans to protect the surf spots of Reunion, most of the surfers that I know and others in the surf and tourist industry are optimistically cautious that maybe at last we can put behind us what can best be described as a living nightmare that we have endured for the past three years,“ says Davey.

Jules_Reunion_3

Imagine watching these kinda waves every week, unridden, inaccessible, due to the constant spectre of violent death. That’s been the reality on Reunion Island. Julian swoops, 2012.

“It’s totally dependent on what methods are employed, as this will determine the level of security obtainable,” he added. “Drum lines have, to a limited extent, been proven reliable, but the jury is still completely out when it comes to the efficiency of the other methods that have been thus far mooted, like the shark vigilantes, and the proposed electrical barriers.”

Unsurprisingly, Reunion Island has seen a steady decline in general tourism as well as the obvious surf tourism over the last three years. The sensationalised horror story of the 15-year-old girl who was mutilated in shallow water made mainstream press the world over. Subsequently, surf shops have closed down, surf schools no longer exist, and hotels and other accommodations that catered for traveling surfers have all but ceased to exist. In three years a booming surf industry has come to a grinding halt.

The goal is to eventually work out the best methods of safety and of keeping the sharks out, and making Reunion Island a surfing destination as well as a popular tourist destination, as it was in the past. So confident is everyone that the experiment is going to work that there’s already a surf contest booked for 2017 at St. Leu.

The budget that’s been government-approved and put aside for the experimental exercise is Euro 10 000 000 (AU$14Mil). Let’s hope that sort of spend sees some results.

Jules_Reunion_1

If you’re going to go to one of the world’s sharkiest spots, go there with an aim that’ll keep you out of the water for most of it. Like Jules, who went there to stomp a 720. And got very close.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Sydney: Low Key Big Wave City

Tim Bonython, Chase Hardaker and Letty Mortensen on the spectacular intersection of April swells +…

Apr 23, 2025

Surfing Your Brains Out Is Now A Legit Path to Higher Education

If only this existed when we were in high school.

Apr 22, 2025

Gruelling Day At Bells: Six Eliminated, Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury

Vahine Fierro, Ian Gouveia, Dvd Silva and more axed after 10-hours of competition.

Apr 22, 2025

How Lowers Became the 2028 Olympic Surfing Venue

The cobblestones beat Huntington’s flash, dodged the chlorine trap, and buried a couple Olympic gold…

Apr 22, 2025

Empty Set: What Defines A ‘Pro’ Surfer?

Nathan Fletcher, Jacob Szekely, and Alex Midler grapple with the blurry line of professional surfing.

Apr 21, 2025

PC, Woke, Or Genuine Connection And Respect?

The intersection of surfing and Indigenous cultures.

Apr 19, 2025

New PerfectSwell Wavepool Announced Outside of Zion National Park, Utah

The tech that fuels Boa Vista Village and São Paulo Surf Club is coming to…

Apr 18, 2025

Gabriela Bryan and Tyler Wright Shape the Narrative on Opening Day at the Rip Curl Pro Bells

Dispatches from an offensively pleasant morning at Bells Beach.

Apr 18, 2025

Why Surf Apparel + Wetsuits Are Bracing for “A Massive Closeout Set” 

Vissla and Sisstr CEO, Paul Naudé + Boardriders’ Wetsuit Czar, Scott Boot talk tariffs. 

Apr 17, 2025

‘Wildcard To Win Bells,’ Says Local CT Veteran 

Tricky Chook, Superman specialist and former Trials winner, pegs Xavier Huxtable for the W.

Apr 17, 2025

For Whom Shall The Bell Toll?

With the cut just one month away, so the Aussie Treble begins.

Apr 16, 2025

Competitive Surfing: A Playground For Billionaires

The WSL and an alt-tour upstart are backed by nine figure net worths. Is there…

Apr 15, 2025

“I Want to See An Ankle-Breaking, Knee-Breaking, Career-Ending Air”

And the first invite to Stab High 2025 goes to...

Apr 15, 2025

Lower Trestles Announced As 2028 Olympic Surfing Venue

“We are honored to share this gem of California’s state park system with the world.”

Apr 15, 2025

Tweed Is Not That Suss, and Other Dispatches from the God Realm

An American’s back-to-the-ocean POV on the Australian Boardriders Battle.

Apr 15, 2025

How Did A Surf-Starved State Produce 22 World Titles?

Red Bull No Contest rockets over Florida.

Apr 15, 2025

Stab High Japan, Presented By Monster Energy, Returns For 2025

36 Pro Men, 10 Ladybirds, 10 Bottle Rockets, the first-ever Pro Women division, and a…

Apr 15, 2025

In Honor of Greg Browning, Watch the Final Season of Drive Thru — For Free

Benji and Donavon recruit Dane Reynolds and Griff Cola for one last trans-USA hurrah.

Apr 14, 2025
Advertisement