Smart Drumlines pass first test in Reunion Island (France)

January 23^rd, 2014 (Helmut Nickel). On January 14th, the experimental phase of the fishing project ‘CapRequins’ has been launched in Reunion Island.

Officially, one of the objectives of this pilot phase, which will run for six months, is to test the effectiveness of an innovative and unique version of drumline.

A drumline is usually defined as an aquatic device consisting of an anchored buoy (originally a drum) from which a single baited hook is suspended. But the new drumlines in Reunion Island are different and regarded as ‘smart’ or ‘intelligent’, because they are additionally equipped with GPS, underwater cameras and sensors that raise an alert signal if a shark gets hooked. In case of a catch, the obtained information will be sent directly to the coordinator who will be able to intervene within 2 hours.

So last week, four smart drumlines were set near the river mouth in the waters of Saint-Paul Bay. After the testing phase of six months and in case of positive results, the use of these smart fishing-devices shall be extended to other areas off the island’s northwestern coast, like Roches Noires and Boucan Canot.

According to local media reports, the first week of the CapRequins Project has turned out to be very encouraging. Because the smart drumlines already hooked several large specimens of three elasmobrach species and one bony fish species. All shark catches occurred within 48 hours (Jan 20-22). The catches also included two male tiger sharks which were seen as a potential threat to swimmers and surfers. So both specimens were killed and then forwarded for examination to the scientific program to re-evaluate the health risks regarding Ciguatera poisoning.

List of catches made by four ‘Smart Drumlines’ in the bay of Saint-Paul, Reunion Island  (from January 14th to January 22nd) :

Time of alert : January 16th , 9:40 hrs.
Species : Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) .
Size : 36 kg
Action taken : caught alive, but kept for scientific analysis, so killed !.

Time of alert: January 20th, 23:44 hrs.
Species: Tiger shark, male (Galeocerdo cuvier).
Size: 3.19 metres in length and 186 kg in weight.
Action taken : caught alive (a real slaughter), but killed for the ‘Ciguatera 2′ Program.

Time of alert: January 21st , 20:58 hrs.
Species: Tiger shark, male (Galeocerdo cuvier).
Size: 3.53 metres in length and estimated 360 kg in weight.
Action taken : caught alive (a real slaughter), but then killed for the ‘Ciguatera 2′ Program. Near Threatened (IUCN status) !

Time of alert : January 22nd, 0:09 hrs.
Species : Hammerhead shark, male (Sphyrna sp.)
Size : 2.50 metres in length and ca. 100 kg in weight.
Action taken : caught alive, then tagged (with spaghetti tag) and released.

Time of alert : January 22nd, 19:49 hrs.
Species : Hammerhead shark, male (Sphyrna sp.)
Size : about 3 metres in length.
Action taken : found dead . Tissue samples taken for scientific analysis. Endangered (IUCN status, red list) and protected !

Time of alert : January 22nd, 20:25 hrs.
Species : Tawny nurse shark, male (Nebrius ferrugineus)
Size : 3.05 metres in length.
Action taken : caught alive, tagged (with spaghetti tag) and released.

But the ‘smart drumlines’ are only one part of the ‘CapRequins’ Project and supposed to catch sharks in a relatively short distance from the shore. As an additional measure, longlines ( reportedly with 300 to 400 hooks ) have been installed in offshore waters of Saint-Paul Bay.

Ndlr Sibylline : Who was the mastermind behind this elaborate subterfuge scheme that surreptitiously sanctions the culling of sharks all under the guise of science (people don’t eat sharks in La Reunion) ? It only serves as a moneymaking exercise for the fishermen involved in the processus. And what about the pollution coming from the island ?

Save Our Sharks (La Reunion, France)

Save Our Sharks (La Reunion, France) – 2nd round

Petition online (link). Please, sign and share, thank you !

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