I rewatched Jaws over the weekend, which is everyone’s go-to movie for the summer. Fortunately, compared to what we saw in the movie, our relationship with sharks has advanced significantly. We are gathering accurate information and eschewing antiquated security measures. And technology is the most effective tool for preventing shark bites.
Shark bites are incredibly rare.
It is uncommon for sharks to bite humans. According to the Global Shark Assault File, there were 137 reported shark bites last year.
The majority of assaults involve online browsing (51 percent ). Only 11 drownings on US beaches this year have resulted in death, which is fewer than a third.
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However, compared to drowning prevention, our approach to preventing shark bites is much more reactive.
Shark nets and culling are no longer used
In the past, culling tactics that correspond to the use of shark nets have been used in response to shark bites.
These are netting partitions that are submerged and are intended to reduce (cull) the shark population.
However, research has shown that only 10% of their catch consists of sharks because they regrettably also capture dolphins, whales, and turtles.
In Cape City, Florida, New Zealand, and Hawaii, nets are no longer used; sadly, Australia is still lagging behind.
But thankfully, there is now a toolkit of technology to help prevent and lessen the impact of shark bites.
Finding sharks
A beach lifeguard in Lengthy Island was killed this week after being bitten while playing the role of a victim during a training exercise in the ocean. In response, local seashores were patrolled by drones to look for sharks.
However, there are additional options available, such as Intelligent Buoy. This autonomous marine monitoring platform uses sonar technology along with cutting-edge pattern-recognition software to find various kinds of large marine life. Lifeguards receive this information in real time.
In open ocean conditions, Intelligent Buoy can operate sustainably. Continuously and autonomously tracking marine life and environmental conditions.
It is a crucial tool for preventing shark bites when combined with drones.
preventing bites
An Australian company has developed a wearable shark-repelling system that uses sound.
A patented acoustical frequency is emitted by the Private Shark Repellent (PSR) to deter sharks while remaining harmless to them.
Between 5 and 10 meters, more than ten different species of sharks have been consistently repelled in various parts of the world. It frequently turns on and off by itself using sensors that look for water.
Sharksuit is an additional Australian product. Wetsuits made by the company are made of material resistant to sustained shark bites.
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene nanofiber makes up the wetsuits (UHMWPE). The material has a strength-to-weight ratio that is 8–15 times greater than metal and 50% larger than kevlar.
The material can withstand a shark chew with noticeable force.
Additionally, it only suffers tiny pin-prick-sized punctures during the most intense chew attacks to avoid the catastrophic blood loss and limb loss that result in death in many shark attacks.
While there is a lot of great technology available (especially in Australia), it is noteworthy that only a small amount of media attention is given to it globally. The media has long been criticized for its lust for blood when covering “shark attacks.”
In Egypt’s Purple Sea, two girls were also killed by shark bites just this week, according to news reports that included copious amounts of graphic imagery.
This has no impact on the cultural debate surrounding shark phobia. The training process will take some time. Today, preventing shark bites is as much about respect and conservation as it was in the movie Jaws, which was all about shark culling.
