[1]Cover photo of Facebook page to remember Elio Canestri – with their permission.
A 13-year-old boy was killed by a shark [2]on April 12 near Les Aigrettes on Reunion island.
Elio Canestri was a promising surfer and a member of the local surfing club. The local community is shocked [3] by the tragic news. A Facebook page [1] was set up to commemorate his life, with already more than 3,500 fans within a few hours.
Soon after the events, the local authorities activated the post-attack measures [4], which include specific fishing targets in the area.
Unfortunately, shark attacks have become a repetitive event on Reunion island: There have been 16 shark attacks off the island [5] since 2011. In February this year, island authorities extended a law prohibiting swimming and other water-based activities except in special areas in response to the high number of attacks. The measure has resulted in a dramatic decline in tourism [2].