The shark crisis in Reunion has generated representations in the media and internet where the marine reserve is guilty to be the main cause of the shark crisis. Interviews with 29 people, most of whom were highly dependent on the reef environment, and questionnaire surveys of 495 people show that public opinion in Réunion and economic users of the reef environment do not agree whith this point of view. These two populations have their own representations of the shark crisis and the responsibilities of the marine reserve. These representations are driven by the nature and intensity of their use relations with the reef environment. Both populations think that the marine reserve has low responsability in the increase of shark attacks.