Another shark death on Reunion Island

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

A bodyboarder has died in a shark attack on the north-west coast of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. The man, identified as 26-year-old former shark spotter Alexandre Naussance, was bitten on the leg Tueday morning local time.

Officials said Naussance ignored warnings not to surf in the region amid repeated sightings of sharks from local fishermen.

Naussance was bodyboarding in the mouth of the Mat River with friends, a zone where all water activities are banned due to recent shark attacks.

"This accident happened even though swimming and other water sports are forbidden in this area," Reunion Island's local government office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police said Naussance was bit in the femoral artery. The type of shark that attacked had not been determined.

"The thigh wound caused blood to pour out of the man, as those he was bodyboarding with desperately tried to save him," the policeman said.

A helicopter with a team of emergency medical respondents was deployed but Naussance was dead by the time he was pulled from the water onto the beach.

This is the 20th shark attack - eight of which have been fatal - off Reunion since 2011.

Comments

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 9:31am

Dead by the time he was out of the water, fuuuuck

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 9:43am

I was surfing with a few blokes from Reunion the other day .

Well, former Reunion Islanders because they refuse to go in the water there anymore. As surfers that doesn't bear thinking about really, so all three of
them Relocated elsewhere - France and Bali - cause there's no sharks.

Think about that for a minute.

One of the fellas actually said 23 attacks.

Surfing that rivermouth in Bullshark infested waters is fucking crazy.

I'd be shark fishing like fuck myself.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 3:08pm

You do have to wonder: Is Reunion an anomaly or a sign of things to come in a world that places high value on rebuilding populations of sharks.

Distracted's picture
Distracted's picture
Distracted Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 6:10pm

Freeride,
I think its important that with the global decimation of sharks for the benefits of the asian shark fin market that we should put a high value on rebuilding those shark populations, as most of them aren't a threat to humans and would have some sort of critical function in whatever ecosystem they're in.

Need to distinguish between the shark populations that are being hammered and the coastal whites/bulls sharks etc that will require development of management practises that allows some sort of co-existing with humans.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 6:29pm

I agree.
Conflating whites and bulls with the shark species getting killed for the shark fin trade is just a classic case of ignorance.

We also need to make regional distinctions. Try getting a fish past the noahs in most parts of northern australia now, from Fraser around to Exmouth and beyond and tell me shark numbers are declining.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 9:01am

Yep Dampier named it Shark Bay for a reason, probably frustrated fishermen on his crew. Have experienced this first hand, the boat moves like it is the one being hunted - 5 mins of fish before the Sharks take every one, boat moves on...
Is there any food pyramid out there where biomass of apex predators naturally dwarfs those species in the middle?

canetoad's picture
canetoad's picture
canetoad Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 4:33pm

My deepest sympathies to his family. He was a shark spotter they say ? Well our council is trying to introduce that in Byron Bay which has had its share of attacks and deaths, and as we know it just doesnt work and wont save lives. Nets and drum lines are the only proven protection. Byron - Ballina will soon be second to the Reunion Islands, if not already. Pretty soon they will be telling everyone in Byron not to go in the water, so when you do go in for a surf and you die, they can go we told you so ! Put the nets and drum lines in ! Both here and Reunion ! Save human lives ahead of a bloody shark !

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 6:23pm

Shark spot :

Paddling in through a tropical lagoon recently here in The Barrens that is Indonesia and I was suprised to see a decent sized Tiger shark.

Pleasant thought in retrospect that the surrounding reef is able to support a predator of that size. Bit of a shock really as I could count the number of fish I've seen in this crystal clear lagoon on a few pairs of hands - if that reef / lagoon was in Northern WA it would be alive with species of all descriptions.

Maybe this shark had learnt to survive on plastic bags.

If that's the case, then we're gonna need a bigger boat cause that thing has got some eating ahead of it.

Dean Mc's picture
Dean Mc's picture
Dean Mc Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017 at 9:36pm

I have heard more crazy stories lately, like a beach being closed because they found half a dolphin and dolphins attacking a three metre White Pointer in shallow water on a small swell in front of some swimmers. God help us when the Autumn swells arrive.

hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 9:53am

I was in Mauritius a couple of years ago (my wife is from there) and met some surfers from Reunion. They fly to Mauritius to surf its too dangerous at home. They told me that their government banned fishing of sharks and declared a lot of the better known surf locations in Reunion into protected national parks about 12 years ago. Since then the sharks have bread to plague proportions. The Mauritian surfers(mostly white "milat"Tamerin white shorts) hate the Reunion surfers so you let them know pretty quickly your an Aussie!!. I went fishing with some locals out the back of Tamerin bay and the boat captain and dive instructor told me that Mauritius has heaps of massive bull sharks but they are not interested in humans. There have been no attacks in Mauritius except a couple of minor ones like spear fishermen being bitten on the hand. Lets hope the switch doesn't get turned on in Mauritius. I think the problem is (our achilles heal) is that there are to many lefties not allowing our councils to put in shark nets and drum lines. The life of a shark, turtle etd is not equal to a human life and we have the right to be protected ourselves.

carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 11:09am

We love putting a label on those whom we disagree with don't we? "To many lefties".
It's 'too' mate.
When do we start taking responsibility for our actions? When i get in the ring, there's more than a very good chance i'll get hit, if i walk on the road, i'll probably get flattened. I know this, so i either accept it or don't do it. Reunion is clearly a shark infested place, there are clear warnings but he chose to paddle anyway

nogo's picture
nogo's picture
nogo Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 12:38pm

Yep the standard response is to kill em all, sad reflection on our society in general imo.

Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 at 12:39pm

Do you surf much carmo?
Where?
Are you a strict vegan?

hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 9:56am

PS my deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends for this preventable tradgety

theween's picture
theween's picture
theween Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 12:04pm

Sorry carmo but you shark-huggers lost the debate months ago. It's a no-brainer to protect humans above dangerous sharks but lefties like you still want to push the 'it's their ocean' bullshit. 'Take responsibility' you say - I agree, take responsibility for mitigating the risk by reducing dangerous shark numbers in populated beach areas. 'Nuff said.

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 12:24pm

Be careful Ween...Carmo gets in the ring...and he corrects your English...a very hard man all round...

carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 1:45pm

Hard as a poached egg

johnnothesea's picture
johnnothesea's picture
johnnothesea Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 12:38pm

I agree that we do need to take responsibility for our actions, both individually and collectively, however lets consider the bigger picture here ... its not okay for a predatory creature to attack a defenseless human being because its in "their territory". We humans have applied this barbaric and senseless notion of territorial ownership for centuries and the results speak for themselves. We know that 99% of shark species are harmless and beautiful creatures that co exist with surfers. Those predators that statistically have proven they cannot co-exist, need to be kept away from popular surfing locations or culled if necessary, to protect human life.

fozzybear's picture
fozzybear's picture
fozzybear Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 12:23pm

since when have humans co-existed, through out history we have raped and pillaged everything we have laid our eyes on. if sharks are turning to us as a food source its because humans have overfished that area. it only takes one shark to bite a human you wont be happy till they are all gone

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 2:15pm

That paddle across the lagoon entrance at St Leu is about as shit scary as it comes. I mean the little beaches inside the lagoon/harbour have shark nets and that was in 99. I mean the guy paddled out when it was signposted not too. Like a guy swimming across a river with croc signs saying no swimming, Darwins theory in practice.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 2:55pm

Is that an outcome that could happen here though?

If enough attacks keep happening at Ballina, could they make it off limits to surfing, and you take it on at your own risk or even risk a fine?

It's not that outlandish to look at Reunion and imagining it happening here.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 2:56pm

btw, crocs are intensively managed in both the NT and QLD.

fozzybear's picture
fozzybear's picture
fozzybear Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 12:18pm

you are also told not to swim in waterways containing crocs and im sure there is signage. in the end its on you

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 3:24pm

Bit of GWS eyeballing footage on Dorsalwatch

hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo's picture
hahnsolo Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 5:11pm

Well let me correct my English! "too" Carmo-Dee. "Character assassination" is a method of reducing the credibility of the other person to weaken their opinions by making out you are on a higher intellectual plain. A common ploy by the left as their opinions a rarely based on fact and common sense but driven by emotion only.! The problem in Reunion was caused by the narrow minded greenies over there and their failure to correct the problem they now have created. There is now a massive bull shark population that has probably decimated certain species of local fish as well as humans. The same people here showing up to protest the installation of drum nets then driving 100 kay home to their inland homes.
There is a lot of talk in Australia that the unprecedented shark numbers close to land is caused by the over fishing of our ocean by super trawlers. Instead of protesting netting protest against the super trawlers. Or do you like eating fish "too" much. (Its like I"m back at Uni arguing with the feminist's again)

fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21's picture
fitzroy-21 Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 5:31pm

"Since then the sharks have bread to plague proportions."

Mmmmmm, shark bread..............

carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee's picture
carmo-dee Friday, 24 Feb 2017 at 5:20am

Doesn't say much for your character if it can be assasinated by the use of one vowel.
But i guess we are making our environment adapt to us in all other circumstances, why stop here

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 5:33pm
mick-free's picture
mick-free's picture
mick-free Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 8:34am

Hows the comments link straight to your facebook....

canetoad's picture
canetoad's picture
canetoad Thursday, 23 Feb 2017 at 5:43pm

Well said Jonnothesea.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Friday, 24 Feb 2017 at 12:14pm

So large marine parks were established just as super-trawlers began strip mining off shore. Bull sharks moved in and decimated the reef sharks the marine park was supposed to protect. Bull sharks (not endangered) then began to attack people, killing many and decimating ocean use, tourism. The bull sharks (not endangered) are currently protected within the park and there is debate as to how many to cull, if at all.

As Tim Flannery wrote of Australian environments: "They are all man made."

Dean Mc's picture
Dean Mc's picture
Dean Mc Friday, 24 Feb 2017 at 11:58pm

ACA Jaws R us

zane's picture
zane's picture
zane Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 7:48am

Nets are the logical answer. Your protect humans swimming in 0.0000000001% of the ocean and let the sharks roam everywhere else. If bull sharks are too high in numbers in a location nature will correct that, in the meantime I don't think its an issue to hunt them and eat them or send them to somewhere that will eat them instead of waste them. Remember we are part of nature to.

I don't think its a discussion around left and right or one not the other, protect humans AND sharks.

zane's picture
zane's picture
zane Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 7:54am

Also think about this, 300 years ago if the natives of reunion island were ocean going people and lived from fishing but there was an outbreak of bull sharks eating the people and all the fish, would it be wrong for the natives to go out and hunt the sharks until their numbers got to a respectable level? Of course it wouldn't. Then why should it be today?

We need to do way more to protect the environment but its a balance. We are part of the circle of life aswell Simba

Distracted's picture
Distracted's picture
Distracted Saturday, 25 Feb 2017 at 10:50am

That is nuts, the guy on the booger was like a popper lure in front of the shark. Makes you wonder how close we've all been to a shark without realising

Blob's picture
Blob's picture
Blob Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 at 10:04am

The search for answers continues.
Human effects on ecosystems seem to be the prime suspect. Here Great Whites have been given a leg up by greenie fearing politicians. In Reunion Bull sharks lost a competitor through the over fishing of the reef sharks that had predated on their pups.
The people who refuse to see the sense in keeping shark populations under management, (ie. culling them when necessary), and show no concern for the safety of people, already have blood on their hands.

fozzybear's picture
fozzybear's picture
fozzybear Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 at 10:59pm

given a leg up give me a break when are we going to take responsilbity for our mistakes. being a greenie seems to be a bad thing now lets just wipe out everything. humans destroy and maim everything that gets in our way who keeps check on us. how many lives are ruined by alcohol a legal drug, lets put things in perspective. if a spot has a shark problem then dont surf it

Blob's picture
Blob's picture
Blob Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 10:38am

You are barely comprehensible....and 99% of Reunion has "a shark problem"

buttplug's picture
buttplug's picture
buttplug Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 at 12:29pm

Saltwater crocodile management has not effected the population of crocodiles or had adverse effects on the ecology or bio diversity of top end eco systems. Maybe take a lesson outta there management strategies.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Sunday, 26 Feb 2017 at 8:05pm

I think this is the dude who died.

Montage vidéo en hommage à Crapo from FOCUSprod Reunion on Vimeo.

tonybarber's picture
tonybarber's picture
tonybarber Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 9:29am

Fozzybear, - 'if a spot has a shark problem then don't surf it'. Tell that to most of the east coast of Aus surfers. Suppose it depends on the 'problem' ? Well, the problem seems to be fixed with nets here.

chook's picture
chook's picture
chook Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 10:27am

i wouldn't worry too much about the greenies. they couldn't stop the rape and pillage of the oceans that have thrown the ecosystem out of whack in the first place. so they won't stop you from the further killing of even more fish to fix the problem.

Blob's picture
Blob's picture
Blob Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 10:46am

Being against the "rape and pillage" of the oceans myself I still don't identify as a greenie. That doesn't mean I can't see the sense in taking responsible action if an ecosystem is shown to be out of whack. How do you feel about the control of rabbit numbers?

fozzybear's picture
fozzybear's picture
fozzybear Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 2:22pm

if your talking about animals that are introduced well thats completely different to controlling something thats on the verge of extinction. sorry i should bite my tongue white pointers and a lot of other shark species are flourishing so ive been told. its one thing to control animals that are eating themselves out of existence e.g africa but to do it to make you feel safer is just selfish

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Monday, 27 Feb 2017 at 5:11pm

Someone needs to do a study aimed at the Chinese proving that the best Shark fin is Bull sharks and great White and that it can cure cancer, make you strong for jigi jig and add 20 years to your life expectancy if you have it daily.