Denis Grosmaire: Protecting the Sharks of French Polynesia
In 2004, Denis Grosmaire, a freediver who had loved the ocean since childhood, embarked on a journey to observe tiger sharks. These encounters sparked a true calling in him: to protect all shark species in an ecosystem then threatened by overfishing.
To speak up in defense of Polynesian sharks, Denis Grosmaire and two friends, Christian and Matairii, founded the Tore Tore association. Working with the government, they helped establish the first regulations for shark conservation in French Polynesia.
Today, the freediver and Air Tahiti Nui Ambassador continues to promote numerous awareness-raising projects for the cause of these fascinating but often misunderstood animals.
Today, he shares his story with us, along with his organization’s missions and the role of sharks in Polynesia.
Please share your background and what sparked your interest in sharks.
“I grew up on some of the most remote islands. I’ve been in the water since I was a kid, so I was able to observe sharks from a very young age. Of course, like all kids, they scared me at first. I thought they were dangerous animals to be wary of. I saw my first tiger shark when I was 5, in Rikitea (in the Gambier Archipelago).
Then I started spearfishing regularly. That’s how you gradually get to know sharks, learn to be careful around them, and understand them.
So I’ve spent my whole life at sea: I love swimming, fishing, surfing… In 2004, I was living in Temae (in Moorea, Tahiti’s sister island) and working in public administration. One day, a friend and I decided to find an activity that would help us unwind during the weekend.
My friend had a boat, and I had a good understanding of the marine world. So, we set ourselves a goal: to meet the biggest sharks in Polynesia. The original idea was simply to make it our weekend activity to relieve some of the stress from work.”
[Editor's Note. It is essential to be familiar with the environment and the species you are diving with in order to minimize risks. Be sure to be accompanied by a professional when encountering marine predators. Contact a local diving club.]
So that’s what led you to discover tiger sharks?
“Yes, we found spots populated by tiger sharks and started diving with them regularly. At first, we were scared, because these sharks are very different from the ones you see when spearfishing: they’re much more impressive and have a much more dangerous reputation.
Back then, there was no one else at those sites, and we could swim with three or four tiger sharks circling around us. Those encounters sparked a real passion in us.
Unfortunately, we quickly realized that the sharks of Polynesia weren’t protected at that time: tuna boats and trawlers were catching them to cut off their fins and export them to China. In 2002, 8 tons of dried shark fins were exported. That’s equivalent to thousands of sharks!
Yet, the shark holds an important place in our culture. It is a protective animal. In the mythology, the creator god had disciples who were sharks, and this animal has always played a positive role in Polynesian legends: it protects people and guides fishermen. This is what we call a Tāura, a totem animal.”
Tell us about how you started your association, Tore Tore
“Sharks play an extremely important role in every area: in the ocean, in culture, in science, and for our tourism industry. All of these observations led us to establish the Tore Tore Association in September 2005 to support the government in implementing the very first regulations on shark conservation in French Polynesia.
We were fortunate to have Georges Anderson as Minister of the Environment, who was very enthusiastic about our cause. He supported us in the association’s missions. And in return, we supported the government in implementing the shark protection regulations, which took effect in April 2006.
It was a great victory: the law prohibited the fishing of sharks sold for their fins!
Unfortunately, the mako shark was left out of this rule, since it was also sold for its meat. So, we requested a change in the regulations to protect all species with no exceptions. Administrative and political hurdles delayed the process, but the law was finally enacted in 2017. All shark species are now protected in French Polynesia.”
After achieving this great goal, how has the association evolved?
“Once the regulations were in place, we took a step back. Our day jobs didn’t allow us to carry out the association’s work full-time.
Personally, I continued to dive with tiger sharks. It’s something I still do regularly.
We finally relaunched the association’s activities in 2019, with exciting projects for which we were expecting significant funding, including two audiovisual projects: an animated film and a documentary about the role of sharks in Polynesian society. These costly projects could not be completed, but we plan to revive them soon.
Our regular activities and current projects also include:
- Awareness-raising activities in schools,
- Communication and awareness-raising campaigns on social media,
- Meetings with institutions,
- Shark photo-identification,
- Publishing educational posters about the different species,
- A project to build a large shark statue to highlight the shark’s place in society.”
What is the current situation regarding sharks in French Polynesia?
“The good thing about French Polynesia is that, thanks to our culture, people have always understood the importance of respecting sharks. Today, now that the era of overfishing is behind us, we simply need to work on maintaining that awareness: issuing reminders when regulations aren’t followed, and teaching children about the importance of these animals to our society.
We are now the world’s largest shark sanctuary. This is a good thing because it attracts many scientists who come to study sharks in French Polynesia. And there is still so much to discover… For example, we’ve observed a resurgence of sharks during certain years, such as in 2001 and since last year, which coincides with strong El Niño cycles, but there aren’t enough studies to prove it. We would need to study all these phenomena and conduct a statistical survey to learn more about the populations of each species.”
Can you tell us about your partnership with Air Tahiti Nui?
“Personally, I have been an Air Tahiti Nui Ambassador since 2019 for all my freediving projects. At the same time, Air Tahiti Nui had planned to support the Tore Tore association in several projects, which had to be postponed for now. This includes the documentary we hope to produce this year.
The goal is to create a three-episode documentary about:
- An overview of the current situation regarding sharks and regulations, the role of sharks in mythology, and their place in Polynesian culture,
- The role of sharks in science and public awareness,
- The relationship between humans and sharks, particularly as seen through the lens of fishermen, and shark observation while diving.
We need to interview people who are deeply rooted in the local culture, as well as scientists, fishermen, institutions, and so on. It’s a large-scale project. The idea behind this documentary is also to effectively promote our area as a great travel destination.”
What would you like to say to people who are afraid of sharks?
“Actually, they aren’t that dangerous. When attacks do occur, it’s unfortunately usually the result of human actions. Although it does happen, it’s very rare for a shark to attack without a reason. It happens much less often than car accidents or dog attacks, for example.
Ever since the Tore Tore Association was founded, our goal has also been to change people’s perception of sharks: to shift mindsets so that the entire community supports our approach. So, we’ve done a lot of awareness-raising among the general public through articles in the local and international press.”
An ultimate message you'd like to share?
“On a Polynesian scale, we can be proud of how far we’ve come, thanks above all to our commitment towards our cultural and natural heritage.
But on a global scale, we are facing a true ecological catastrophe. The oceans are being overexploited, sharks are not protected everywhere, and biodiversity is collapsing. Despite repeated warnings from scientists, the decisions being made remain largely insufficient. In the heart of the Pacific, hundreds of fishing boats operate outside our vast Exclusive Economic Zone, placing constant pressure on our ecosystems. We must remain vigilant and strengthen the protection of our EEZ.”
Shark Observation in French Polynesia: Best Practices
If you encounter sharks while swimming in Polynesian waters, always remain calm. Do not try to swim away hastily, and do not try to approach or touch the animals.
Instead, face the animal calmly and observe it.
If you plan to participate in an activity that may involve an encounter with sharks (diving, spearfishing, snorkeling in an area frequented by sharks, etc.), always make sure to be accompanied by a professional who is familiar with the area and the species involved. Be sure to follow the instructions provided on location.
If you’re spearfishing, do not keep your catch on your belt. Immediately place it out of the water, either on the boat or in a floating container.
Finally, to minimize risks, avoid fishing areas and swimming at dawn and dusk.
Support the Tore Tore Association
The association is looking for new members! People of all backgrounds are welcome: volunteers who would like to lead workshops in schools, interns, and scientists interested in conducting research on tiger sharks.
You can also make a donation. Find all the information on the Tore Tore Association website.
Pictures : Denis Grosmaire
