Sea Shepherd Reward Offer Get Results on Reunion Island

Warning: At the bottom of this article, there are pictures of two dogs who have been hooked by these fishermen. The images are disturbing and difficult to look at.

On August 18th, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society posted a reward for the arrest on La Reunion island of anyone responsible for using live dogs or cats as bait for sharks.

To utilize puppies and kittens as live shark bait has been a "tradition" on La Reunion, and despite it being a violation of French law, the practice has continued without violators being arrested.

Sea Shepherd provided some motivation with a reward of  €1,000 for the first arrest and conviction of any person caught using live dogs or cats as bait.

This week the first violator was charged as a result of an effort by police to investigate the practice. The man will appear in court on September 30th. If convicted Sea Shepherd will pay the arresting officer the reward of €1,000. Sea Shepherd will pay €200 to the arresting officer for every successful conviction thereafter.

The first Sea Shepherd story on this issue was posted on August 18th, 2005 at:

http://www.seashepherd.org/news/news_050818_1.html

The Story in the London Sun can be found in the September 30th, 2005, edition at: 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005450292,00.html 

Please write to the following officials to urge them to take immediate action to stop the abuses occurring on La Reunion Island:

The Préfet of la Réunion (local representative of the central French Administration):
Mr Laurent Cayrel 
1 av. Victoire 
97400 St Denis 
La Réunion 

Minister of Oversees Territories (i.e., the highest civil servant responsible for the administration of French overseas "départements" and territories (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane, New Caledonia, Réunion, etc...)

The Minister of Outre-Mer 
Mr François Baroin 
27 rue Oudinot 
75007 Paris 
France

The police :

Direction départementale de la Sécurité Publique
5, rue Malartic
97400 Saint Denis
La Réunion

Tel : +262 90 74 74
Fax : +262 90 75 28

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (oversees the Veterinary Services Authorities responsible for the well-being of animals in France and also in la Réunion):

Monsieur le Ministre de L'Agriculture et de la Pêche
à l'attention de M. BUSSEREAU
78, rue de Varenne
75007 Paris

Public Prosecutor :

Monsieur le Substitut du Procureur 
Tribunal de Grande Instance
Champ Fleuri
97400 St Denis
La Réunion

Tourism Commission:

Comité du tourisme de la Réunion 
4 place du 20 Décembre 1898 
97400 Saint Denis 
(La Réunion) 


Thank you for your efforts!