Shark Shield Bites Back

Business Week ^ | 3/5/06 | Ian Cochran

[voletti]

In the wake of two especially brutal attacks in Australia, ocean-lovers can try a new invention to ward off the toothy terrors This year got off to a bad start in Australia, which had its first fatality in January when 21-year-old Sarah Whiley died from shock and blood loss after being savaged by up to three bull sharks while swimming off a Queensland beach. A short time after, Bernie Williams was mauled on the elbow by a Great White, diving not far from Perth. The animal then proceeded to stalk him while he hid in a crevice on the ocean floor. The shark only disappeared after one of Williams' buddies showed up with a Shark Shield. Available from Australia's SeaChange Technology, Shark Shield is targeted at anyone who loves the marine environment but is concerned about encountering sharks. It can be used by boaters, divers, windsurfers, and snorkelers, and if successful, could well turn out to be the must-have accessory for those who wish to minimize the risk of an unpleasant scrape with the ocean's top predator.

[R. Scott]

According to data available at the International Shark Attack File, there were 61 unprovoked shark attacks around the world in 2004; seven of these resulted in fatalities.

Guess I don’t have to worry about it – or rush out and buy a Shark Shield.

[OldFriend]

Unless you plan on swimming and scuba diving off the Australian beaches.

[Calpernia]

GPSS02 $479.95

If you spearfish, surf, swim, dive or snorkel, enjoy the ocean with your personal Shark Exclusion Zone when wearing a Shark Shield™.

The Shark Shield™ Freedom 4 hour unit is a compact, versatile and lightweight personal unit designed for freedivers, snorkelers, swimmers, surfers and scuba divers.

[SkyPilot]

[stylin_geek]

Please note the resemblence to this:

[llevrok]

Headline
MAN BITES DOGFISH

[sergeantdave]

I try to avoid water where the things living there can eat you in one bite.

[Mongeaux]

They have a version now for surfboards as well. The shield works by putting out an electromagnetic field that scrambles Shark Senses when they get close. The shield is not perfect, however. There has been at least one fatal attack on a diver who was wearing the device, perhaps improperly. Great Whites are known for suprise attacks where they build up an enormous head of steam, hitting speeds up to 20mph before barrelling into their target. With that much headway a small electromagnetic field is unliely to stop them in the last second or so of the attack. But it's better than nothing.

[gitmo]

[gitmo]

From their website:

The SeaChange Technology test programme - Shark Shield™ products have been thoroughly tested in both South Africa and South Australia against Great Whites. Field testing involves attracting sharks using blood and offal, under stringently controlled conditions. The unit is turned on and placed into the water with fish bait attached, to attract the shark. The shark's behaviour is then observed and recorded as it investigates the food source. The testing conducted to date proves conclusively that sharks detest the effect the field has on them, and will keep a safe distance between themselves and the Shark Shield™. These tests involved independent marine biologists.

[free_at_jsl.com]

From my SCUBA experience (just PADI open-water) I've found that sharks will not bother you if you don't bother them. If you see one, the best thing to do is ignore it. They will sense fear and will react to sudden movements.

I'm not convinced that this "shield" would be 100% effective. Sharks are often unpredictable and this thing might antagonize a shark into attacking. It projects an annoying electric field and the shark may attack to make it stop.

JSL

[Charlespg]

http://www.bangsticks.com/qanda.html

[null and void]

With that much headway a small electromagnetic field is unliely to stop them in the last second or so of the attack. But it's better than nothing.

Agreed. I'd rather be hit by a shark going 20 mph, than hit AND BIT by a shark going 20 mph.

YMMV...

[Psycho_Bunny]

According to data available at the International Shark Attack File, there were 61 unprovoked shark attacks around the world in 2004; seven of these resulted in fatalities.

 

Shark Attacks in 2004

Unprovoked	Provoked
Maulings: 54	Teasing Shark With Food:  Maulings - 6, Deaths - 3
Deaths: 7	Giving Shark The Raspberry:  Maulings - 4, Deaths - 7
	Verbal Insult of Shark:  Maulings - 7, Deaths - 2
	Flipping Shark Off:  Maulings - 0, Deaths - 16

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I wonder how an electromagnetic field is propagated in salt water. Radar waves are quickly attenuated, that is why we use SONAR.

[Mongeaux]

Agreed. I'd rather be hit by a shark going 20 mph, than hit AND BIT by a shark going 20 mph.

It's not foolproof - you could be hit and bit, albeit with less accuracy. The electromagnetic sense provided by the Ampullae of Lorenzini (oil filled pores on the snout) appear to be used to guide the shark to its prey in the last few moments of the bite. A nictating membrane rolls up over the sharks' eyes to protect them, rendering the fish essentially blind at the moment of the bite. However, your chance of surviving the attack are still better with a shark pod than without.

[Psycho_Bunny]

If you watch the vids at the website, the sharks get pretty close before getting zapped. The field only needs to propagate a few feet.

[R. Scott]

I have swam and dived where sharks are common. I have never tried to look or smell like food. I have never been bothered.

[OldFriend]

Yeah, and I have run across the street without looking too. So I didn't get hit by a car so I should keep running across without looking.

Your argument is just plain silly.