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A sensitive topic · official sources

Sharks in Reunion Island: understanding their presence around the island

Why the west coast, which species are involved, where you can swim without risk, what CapRequins and CHARC actually do. A factual reference page on a topic that has stirred the island for over a decade.

≈ 50species recorded2problem speciesLagoonsafe zone
Background

Why sharks are found on the west coast

Since 2011, Reunion Island has seen a series of shark attacks, mainly affecting surfers and open-water swimmers along the west coast. This concentration of incidents pushed the topic from a local news item to a media-labelled ‘shark crisis’, triggering a series of measures by the prefecture (the French statetriggering a series of prefectural, scientific and local measures toapos;s local authority), scientists and local councils to understand and limit the phenomenon.

The two species mainly involved are the bull shark and the tiger shark, both coastal predators found throughout tropical waters. Most sea users (surfers, swimmers outside the lagoon, divers) are concentrated on the west coast, in waters that remain hospitable to both species. The east coast, less populated and more exposed to the trade winds, isn't affected to the same degree.

A 'Danger: Swimming Prohibited' sign planted on a Reunion Island beach facing the Indian Ocean
Key figures

The issue in six figures

Reunion Island has around fifty recorded shark species in total, but only two are regularly involved in incidents with humans. Public programmes work alongside swimming bans to reduce the risk without giving up on using the sea.

  • Species recorded in Reunion Island
    ≈ 50
  • Species protected by prefectural order
    5 (reef species)
  • Species targeted by CapRequins
    Tiger + bull shark
  • Beaches with nets
    Boucan-Canot + Roches Noires
  • Reference scientific study
    CHARC programme (2011-2015)
  • Monitoring network
    Centre Sécurité Requin (CSR)
Protected reef species

Reunion Island's reef sharks, protected by prefectural order

Six shark species found on Reunion Island's reefs are listed on the IUCN Red List and protected by prefectural order. Fishing, keeping on board, transferring between vessels, landing, storing and selling any part of these species is strictly prohibited.

SpeciesScientific nameIUCN status
Silvertip sharkCarcharhinus albimarginatusVU · Vulnerable
Grey reef shark ('dagsit')Carcharhinus amblyrhynchosNT · Near Threatened
Whitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusNT · Near Threatened
Blacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusNT · Near Threatened
Tawny nurse sharkNebrius ferrugineusVU · Vulnerable
Scalloped hammerhead sharkSphyrna lewiniCR · Critically Endangered

IUCN key: CR Critically Endangered, VU Vulnerable, NTNear Threatened. These reef species aren't involved in attacks. The problem species are the tiger shark and the bull shark, which aren't protected and are the focus of the CapRequins programme.

A large pelagic shark swimming, deep blue water, a school of fish in the background
Scientific programmes

CapRequins and CHARC, two key programmes

The CapRequins programme combines targeted fishing of tiger and bull sharks near sensitive spots, acoustic tagging of released individuals, and ongoing tracking of their movements. It's funded by local authorities and the French state, and remains a regular subject of debate between a safety-first approach and ecosystem preservation.

The CHARC programme (Connaissance de l'Habitat des Requins Côtiers de La Réunion), run between 2011 and 2015 by Ifremer, mapped out where the two problem species are present and how they behave. CHARC's findings remain a reference today for prefectural orders and decisions on where to install protective measures.

Alongside these two programmes are the protective nets at Boucan-Canot and Roches Noires beaches, shark lookout posts at supervised surf spots (Saint-Leu, Saint-Pierre), and the prefectural orders that set out the conditions for swimming and water sports in open water.

Common sense at sea

Six habits that reduce the risk

  • Swim in the lagoon only, or at beaches with nets and a lookout in place (Boucan-Canot, Roches Noires).
  • Don't swim after heavy rain, which fills coastal waters with debris and draws bull sharks close to river mouths.
  • Avoid murky water, dusk and dawn, the prime hunting times for both species.
  • Follow the prefectural orders, which ban swimming and water sports at certain open-water sites. On-site signage is kept up to date and takes precedence.
  • Surf and bodyboard only at secured spots, with an active shark lookout in place. Check with local surf schools before getting in the water.
  • No fish or bleeding wounds in the water. No spearfishing while swimmers are present.
Frequently asked questions

The most common questions

Why is there a 'shark crisis' in Reunion Island?
A series of serious attacks, several of them fatal, struck Reunion Island's west coast from 2011 onwards, mainly affecting surfers and swimmers in unprotected areas. Authorities began speaking of a 'crisis' at that point, given the unusual frequency of these incidents and their geographic concentration. Since then, a combination of measures (prefectural bans, targeted fishing programmes, lookout posts at surf spots, protective nets) has reduced the risk without eliminating it. The topic remains sensitive and is regularly debated on the island.
Which shark species are involved in the attacks?
Two species are mainly involved: the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). Both can be found in shallow coastal waters, especially after heavy rain (bull sharks tolerate the brackish water near river mouths). The other species present in Reunion Island, notably the protected reef sharks, aren't involved in attacks on humans.
Can you swim safely in Reunion Island?
Yes, provided you stick to authorised areas. The lagoon, enclosed by the coral reef on the west coast, remains a safe, shallow environment with no history of attacks (Ermitage, Saline-les-Bains, Trou d'Eau, the Saint-Pierre lagoon). Boucan-Canot and Roches Noires beaches (Saint-Gilles) are fitted with protective nets and lifeguards. Outside these areas, swimming and surfing remain regulated by prefectural order.
What are the CapRequins and CHARC programmes?
CapRequins is a targeted fishing and scientific tagging programme for tiger and bull sharks, running since 2014 along the west coast around at-risk spots. It combines professional fishing, acoustic tagging and behaviour tracking. CHARC (Connaissance de l'Habitat des Requins Côtiers de La Réunion, or 'Understanding Reunion Island's Coastal Shark Habitat') is a scientific programme run between 2011 and 2015 by Ifremer, which mapped out where the two problem species are present and how they behave. Both programmes have contributed a great deal to understanding the phenomenon.
Why the west coast rather than the east coast?
The west coast is busier with swimmers and surfers (the tourist areas of Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu, Boucan), with surf spots outside the lagoon, in open water. The east coast, exposed to the trade winds and swell, is less suited to swimming, and surfing is rarer there. It's this concentration of open-water users, combined with the presence of the two species, that explains why incidents map onto the west coast.
Can you still surf in Reunion Island?
Yes, but under strict conditions. Open-water surfing is regulated by prefectural order, only allowed at spots fitted with a lookout system (Saint-Leu, Saint-Pierre), during specific time slots and conditions (visibility, water safety patrols in place, not after heavy rain). Unrestricted bodyboarding and surfing remain banned at most of the island's historic spots. Local surf schools adapt their lessons to this framework.
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