A court ruling on Thursday in New Caledonia directed the authorities to cease the practice of hunting sharks, deeming the multiple culls as an “excessive” response to potential threats to swimmers.
The French Pacific territory had been striving to safeguard its bustling beaches from shark encounters following two attacks earlier this year, one of which resulted in the tragic death of an Australian tourist.
At one point, sea bathing was entirely prohibited, and a controversial net was recently set up to deter sharks.
Throughout the year, the capital city of Noumea also sanctioned multiple “preventative” shark hunts, aiming to restore safety to the beaches. These campaigns led to the killing of 127 sharks, comprising 83 tiger sharks and 44 bulldog sharks, as reported by the ocean-protection NGO, Longitude 181.
An environmental group, “Ensemble pour la Planete” (United for the Planet), contested this policy by filing a legal challenge with the territory’s administrative court, responsible for government-related cases.
The court concluded that the systematic culling efforts orchestrated by Noumea city were “disproportionate” in response to the perceived threat. It noted the absence of scientific studies concerning the targeted shark populations and the environmental impact of the culls.
Furthermore, the court found fault with the southern province’s decision to permit Noumea city hall to conduct shark hunting in maritime reserves where fishing is inherently prohibited.
While acknowledging that certain “limited” and “proportionate” exceptions could be permissible, the court ruled that the current shark culling program failed to meet these criteria.
Studies from La Reunion university revealed that prior to 2010, there were no recorded shark attacks in Noumea. However, since then, the capital has witnessed 13 incidents out of New Caledonia’s total of 32 attacks.
The sudden surge in the number of sharks in the bays surrounding Noumea, situated approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) east of Australia, remains a mystery.
