What's the Shark Attack Risk For Reunion Island in 2026?

After one session at L’Hermitage near the old Circus club, a local surfer told us how, years before, a shark attacked his friend at a rarely surfed right-hander at Sainte Suzanne, a spot known for sharks on the northeast side. The injured surfer held onto him as he paddled them both to shore, even as the shark kept attacking. Sadly, his friend died on the beach from heavy blood loss.

The story made one thing clear: sharks have always been around Reunion. On an island in the Indian Ocean, that’s just part of nature. Trouble starts when that balance changes.

(Note: One of the more bizarre attacks in Reunion Island took place inside the L’Hermitage Lagoon. A British tourist, Richard Martyn Turner, went missing while snorkeling inside the lagoon in 2019, and his arm was found inside a captured Tiger Shark’s stomach a few days later. His wife identified him by recognising his wedding ring.)

Before the Crisis: A Growing Surf Frontier

Most of Reunion’s main surf spots are on the west coast. St Pierre and St Leu are the top breaks. Etang Salé and Turtle Farm are also reliable. Trois Bassins and Boucan Canot aren’t as powerful but are still great for surfing. Saint Gilles is the social hub. Peak du Diable always felt a bit intimidating. L’Hermitage Pass was a favourite for many, and Le Port, farther north, had big waves and a serious vibe.

Not long after the early nineties, Reunion became a hot spot in the surf world. Billabong sent Mark Occhilupo and Ronnie Burns to film there. They surfed St Leu for Billabong’s movie Pump, with Occy’s braided hair and Concrete Blonde on the soundtrack. The St Leu part of the film (at 9:40) is still a classic.

By the time Pump gained a cult following, Occy was entering a personal crisis, and Burns had died in Hawaii. The film became part tribute and part confirmation of these world-class setups.

Tourism officials took notice, and so did the WSL, then called the ASP. The Yop Reunion Pro became the island’s first big pro event. Over five years, winners included Jeff Booth, Richard Marsh, Sunny Garcia, Matt Hoy, and Kelly Slater. Top surfers explored the coast, tried different spots, and competed at St Leu. The events were a hit.

After 1996, Yop withdrew sponsorship, but surf culture was growing. Schools expanded. Surf tourism rose sharply. Boards came in from South Africa or were shaped by locals such as Mickey Rat. Accommodation multiplied.

In 2005, the Rip Curl Pro Search brought Reunion back into the spotlight. Mick Fanning won in perfect waves. Once again, Reunion was seen as a top surf spot with warm water and lots of great reefs. Then things changed.

When Patterns Changed: 2006 to 2013

In 2006, there were two attacks. A surfer died at Pointe du Diable, and a bodyboarder survived at Saint Gilles. The stories made the news but soon faded. In the next four years, only two more non-fatal attacks happened.

Everything changed in 2011. There were six attacks, two of them deadly. One case got worldwide attention.

On February 11, Éric Dargent was attacked at St Gilles. Another surfer used a tourniquet and got him to shore. Surgeons had to amputate his leg above the knee. Looking back, this was the start of the 'shark crisis.' In the next eight years, sharks attacked 30 people, killed 11, and caused 18.5% of shark deaths worldwide during that time.

In 2012, three more attacks occurred, including a fatal incident at Trois Bassins. Three further attacks happened in 2013. In three years, Reunion recorded 12 attacks and became the sharkiest place to surf in the world.

Authorities were under pressure. Locals and surfers wanted action, but conservation groups were against killing sharks. The government responded very cautiously.

The attacks kept happening. On July 26, 2013, most water sports were banned. In 2015, 13-year-old surfer Elio Canestri was killed at Les Aigrettes, and the world reacted with shock and outrage. News stories focused on the violent details.

That year, there were four more attacks, two of them deadly. Stephane Berhamel died on his honeymoon, and 15-year-old swimmer Sarah Roperth was killed just meters from shore, bitten in half by a large shark.

Even amid all this, authorities often blamed 'reckless surfers' rather than admitting that something had clearly changed.

Why Did It Happen: Theories and Drivers

No single cause has been proven, but several factors keep coming up.

The 2007 West Coast marine reserve led to more fish and probably more predators.
The 1999 ban on the sale of shark meat caused the shark-fishing industry to collapse.
The removal of reef sharks may have allowed juvenile bull sharks to survive in higher numbers.

An irrigation system installed in the early 2000s moved freshwater from east to west, lowering salinity. Bull sharks do well in water with less salt.

Former CT surfer Jeremy Flores connected the crisis to the marine reserve and the end of traditional fishing.

“They created this Marine Reserve, so they prohibited fishing, and it really created a fish park all of a sudden,” said Jeremy.

Governance, Politics and a Breaking Point

After bodyboarder Adrien Dubosc was killed at Pointe au Sal on April 29, 2017, tensions reached a high point. Many solutions were discussed, but the Prefect kept the surf ban in place and placed the responsibility on individuals.

Jean Francois Nativel summarised the sentiment in Shark Attacks – A Modern Tragedy – Reunion Island’s Story. He wrote that “the environmental sensitivity of Western societies that frowns upon such things as culling predators, prevents any real chance of making the ocean safe again.“

Kelly Slater also stirred up the debate at the time.

“I won’t be popular for saying this, but there needs to be a serious cull on Reunion, and it should happen every day,” said Slater. “There is a clear imbalance happening in the ocean there.”

A bomb attack on the marine reserve offices followed. Slater clarified his comments. Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson intervened, stating, “Kelly Slater is not the enemy of the shark.”

Slow Return to the Lineup

Since 2018, a 'preventive fishing program' has used SMART drumlines to catch and kill 68 bull sharks and 543 tiger sharks, according to a www.science.org article, Haunted By Sharks. Most surfers now use anti-shark devices, and more spots are being surfed again. Still, sharks are present.

The Shark Risk on Réunion Island in 2025

The last fatal attack on a surfer occurred on 9 May 2019, when Kim Mahbouli was killed near Saint Leu in a closed zone. There’s still no perfect answer.

Reunion’s waves are still world-class, and the water stays warm even in winter. South African surfers, teams, and operators are watching to see if the crisis is really over or just on pause. For now, shark activity remains a major concern. Both visitors and locals are told to always follow the Shark Lookout Program (Surf Patrol) and only surf in designated, netted, or closely watched areas, especially near Saint-Leu.

The Ocean Indien Challenge in November 2024 was a strong comeback. Contests are possible again, and people are surfing freely in many places, though it’s not as relaxed as before. The next event in Durban this month will strengthen this new competitive connection, and another closely monitored Reunion event is on the horizon.

Durban In December?

The Reunion crew roll into Durban next. New waves, new scene, and a December showdown that’ll still need a solid safety plan. Let’s just say the stuff to watch out for in Durban isn’t only in the lineup.