Attaques de requins en Nouvelle-Cal��donie de 1958 �� 2020 : revue de cas

Contexte et objectifs. Nous pr��sentons une s��rie de cas d���attaques de requins survenues en Nouvelle-Cal��donie, afin de proposer aux usagers du milieu marin concern��s et aux autorit��s en charge de la s��curit�� du public un ��tat des lieux de cette probl��matique. M��thodes. Un recueil de cas r��alis�� par les auteurs a fait l���objet d���une base de donn��es, dont les r��sultats sont analys��s et pr��sent��s ici sous forme synth��tique. R��sultats. Nous avons r��pertori�� 67 cas d���attaques de requins en Nouvelle-Cal��donie de 1958 �� 2020, dont 13 fatales. Le nombre des attaques a augment�� au fil des ann��es. Les attaques ont concern�� majoritairement des chasseurs sous-marins et des apn��istes r��coltant des invert��br��s (58,5 % du total des attaques). La proportion d���attaques de baigneurs, nageurs et adeptes du snorkeling (18,5 % du total des attaques) et celle des pratiquants des sports de glisse (14 %) pourraient avoir augment�� ces derni��res d��cennies. Une attaque de plongeur en scaphandre autonome a ��t�� r��pertori��e. La l��talit�� des attaques est de pr��s d���une sur cinq, sup��rieure �� la moyenne mondiale. Les principales esp��ces en cause sont le requin tigre Galeocerdo cuvier (20 attaques, dont 8 mortelles) et le requin bouledogue Carcharhinus leucas (14 attaques, dont 2 mortelles). Deux attaques ont ��t�� attribu��es au grand requin blanc Carcharodon carcharias, dont une mortelle. Conclusions. La stimulation alimentaire appara��t comme le principal facteur favorisant les attaques. L���information du public m��riterait d�����tre optimis��e dans une perspective de pr��vention des accidents. Shark attacks in New Caledonia from 1958 to 2020: a review of cases Background and objectives. Recent shark attacks in New Caledonia have prompted local authorities to elaborate a risk-management plan. The objective of the present paper is to produce detailed data on shark attacks that occurred in New Caledonian waters for the last few decades, as well as on the injuries of the victims, in order to inform rescue and medical services as well as authorities in charge of educating the public and providing security. Methods. Incidents involving sharks and humans in New Caledonia for the last six decades were included into a database. Sharks were tentatively identified to species according to the shape, size and other external characteristics of injuries to the victims, together with witness accounts. The severity of shark bites was evaluated against the scale proposed by A.K. Lentz and co-authors (Am Surg. 2010;76:101-6). Results. Sixty-seven shark-attack cases were recorded in New Caledonia from 1958 to 2020, of which 13 were lethal. The majority of the attacks concerned spearfishers and freedivers collecting invertebrates (58.5% of total). In the last decades, shark attacks may have increased towards bathers, swimmers and snorkelers (18.5%), and people taking part in water sports including surf, kitesurf, windsurf and SUP foil (14%). One scuba diver was also attacked (1.5%). Twenty attacks including 8 lethal ones were ascribed to the tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier; 14 attacks including 2 lethal ones to the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas; 2 attacks including 1 lethal to the great white shark Carcharodon carcharias. The lethality of attacks was almost one in five, above the global average. Conclusions. Feeding incentive appeared to be a frequent factor triggering attacks. The education of the public should be promoted as a preventive measure aiming to reduce the risk of such accidents.
MTSI, Vol. 2 No 1 (2022): MTSI-Revue