Shark culls brought in after fatal attack cause division and anger in New Caledonia

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Julien Mazzoni in NouméaMarch 2, 2026 at 05:20 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Following a fatal shark attack in a popular tourist area, authorities in New Caledonia began culling tiger and bull sharks off the coast of Nouméa in late February. The cull aims to protect human lives by reducing the shark population in areas used for swimming and water sports. This action has led to the closure of some beaches and sparked controversy, with marine conservation organization Ensemble Pour La Planète (EPLP) launching a legal challenge to halt the operation, arguing that culls are ineffective and target protected species. A similar cull was stopped by the courts in 2023. As of late February, seven tiger sharks and one bull shark have been caught, with smaller sharks being released. The debate highlights the tension between public safety concerns and marine conservation efforts in the French Pacific territory.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

France 30% bull shark ×240% Ensemble Pour La Planète (EPLP) ×260% tiger shark ×460% Sonia Lagarde ×270% Nouméa ×580% New Caledonia ×590%

Keywords

shark cull 100% shark attack 90% marine conservation 70% public safety 70% tiger shark 60% nouméa 50% legal challenge 50% bull shark 50% water sports 40%