A
team of international researchers, led by SOS Founders, Dr. Ryan
Kempster and Channing Egeberg, have revealed test results showing
the effectiveness of a commercially available electric shark
deterrent, the
Shark Shield Freedom 7TM.
The independent research, published in the journal
PLoS One, concluded that upon first encounter with a Shark
ShieldTM, all approaching white sharks were effectively
deterred by an average of 1.3 metres.
After multiple approaches, individual white sharks showed signs of
habituation to the Shark ShieldTM, which decreased the
effective field of the deterrent by an average of 12 centimetres per
approach. However, despite an increase in tolerance, 89% of white
sharks continued to be deterred from biting or interacting with the
bait when in the presence of an active Shark ShieldTM.
Testing was carried out in Mossel Bay, South Africa in 2014. The
research involved the deployment of a custom-built stereo-camera
system, equipped with either an inactive (control) or an active
Shark ShieldTM. The specific configuration of the stereo
cameras allowed the researchers to accurately determine how close
white sharks approached the electrodes of the Shark ShieldTM
using a video analysis technique traditionally used for measuring
the size of fish. A total of 322 encounters were analysed from 41
individual white sharks ranging from two to four metres in length.
Dr. Kempster said that only one white shark interacted with the bait
in the presence of an active Shark ShieldTM, and this
only occurred after multiple approaches to the device.
“Although the effectiveness of the Shark ShieldTM likely
varies between species, the fact that
white sharks are implicated in the majority of fatal incidents
globally suggests that a deterrent that effectively deters this
species should be an important safety consideration for a range of
ocean users,” Dr. Kempster said.
“The research found no evidence that the Shark ShieldTM
attracted sharks from a greater distance, which is a common myth
among surfers, and showed that the Shark ShieldTM can
reduce white shark interactions.”
Channing Egeberg, co-lead on the project,
said that “the findings of this research finally
provide the public with an effective solution to reduce the risk of
a shark-related injury.” She went on to say that “the public should
be aware, however, that this research does not imply effectiveness
of any other similar deterrents, and that more research on the range
of commercially available devices is still needed”.
The research involved scientists from Support Our Sharks, the University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, Flinders University, and Oceans Research in South Africa.
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