Last Monday, three aggressive paratas were spotted off the Hilton Moorea by the Mao Mana Foundation. The increasingly frequent presence of these oceanic sharks near our coasts does not seem to worry professionals in the marine excursion industry—despite the alert raised on social media by the Mao Mana Foundation. Professional fishermen on the island, however, do acknowledge having noticed a greater presence of these sharks off our shores.
Do not be fooled by its calm appearance—it is a formidable predator at sea. The oceanic shark, known as the parata, is never far from whales or schools of fish. During whale-watching trips, safety instructions must be followed to the letter. “Staying calm is the first rule,” reminds Maui Ciucci, owner of a whale-watching company. “You need to stay together and avoid panic situations. Above all, it’s our behavior that will influence the shark’s behavior.”
Fishermen also often encounter paratas during their offshore trips. This is the case for Jimmy, a resident of Paopao and president of the Eimeo Nui fishermen’s cooperative. For the past two years, he has noticed behavioral changes. “Offshore, yes. We often come across them in schools of tuna, close to the coast. Before, we used to see them within 10 nautical miles, now they’re in the 1,000-meter lines. Many things have changed.”
A shark usually confined to the open sea
Underwater, spearfishermen are not safe either, as recent attacks remind us—the last one dating back to 2024. Going out alone at sea can be risky. “He should have had a hunting partner with him to avoid this kind of incident,” analyzes Eric Clua, a researcher at the CRIOBE in Moorea. “One diver shoots the fish, and the other stays nearby to fend off the shark with the spear when it approaches. And that without shooting the shark, otherwise you can trigger a self-defense reaction from the animal.”
As for the lagoon, there is no cause for concern. Maui, a captain in a lagoon excursion company, says he has never encountered a parata in 12 years. “We make stops at the ray and shark spots,” he explains. “We’ve never come across a parata.”
Even though vigilance is necessary, marine animal defenders remind us that this shark is in its natural habitat. Calm and respect are essential when diving in its domain.
