Charge and stripes: The latest in shark deterring devices
It used to be so simple, avoid surfing at dusk, dawn, near river mouths, and anywhere in South Oz and chances were you’d be sweet.
But good grief, haven’t things changed? And when footage of our friend the dolphin being mauled by a tiger shark hit the front page last week, the evidence became simply too hard to ignore: sharks, it appears, are simply…everywhere.
West Oz? Don’t even start. Simply log on to the wonderfully active sharksmart.com.au and prepare to be amazed. Newcastle? How’s a couple of pesky five metre white pointers sound? Bondi? Tick. Sydney Harbour? Yep. Throw in a couple non-fatal attacks off Mollymook and Avoca and you’d be forgiven for thinking we've got a real problem.
But, consider the following, the national road toll for just 2014? Close to 1,200…and that’s a good year. Heart disease…25,000.
Death by shark, just (sadly) four.
Be that as it may, the proliferation of sightings, encounters and non-fatal attacks warrants an examination of what’s being done and what is available to hopefully prevent a close encounter with sharks during your next surf. West Australians have struggled with the issue of sharks since the death of Brad Smith at Lefthanders in 2004. But it wasn’t till the death of Chris Boyd at nearby Umbis in 2013, and eight fatal attacks in between, that the WA Government decided to act.
It quickly introduced its highly controversial drum line program which sought to catch pretty much any shark within a stones throw of beaches from the south-west to Perth in a bid to allay the fears of a panicked populace.
Statistics show that the program was a flop with not one white pointer - which was the government's prime target - caught. WA Premier, Colin Barnett, admitted as much but held firm that “rogue sharks” would be dealt with by a dedicated Shark Response Unit if found to be “posing a threat to beachgoers”. It also launched a dedicated website which pinpoints where and when a shark has been spotted and vowed to fund further research into their behavioural patterns.
Shortly after the attack on Sean Pollard in Esperance last year, the government sprung its trap and caught two large white pointers within the vicinity just hours after the attack. Neither was found to contain any human remains.
And shortly after that attack, surfers in the southwest began to notice an appearance of a banded wetsuit, which supposedly repelled curious sharks. The suits, manufactured under license by West Australian company, Radiator, work off several theories put forward by scientists at the University of Western Australia’s Ocean Institute and Perth company, Shark Mitigation Systems (SAMS).
Radiator brand director, Bob Lushey, says the size, shape, colour, and contrast of the bands on the suit played into the one known aspect of what sharks can and can’t see.
“Not much is actually known about a sharks’ behavioural patterns but we do now know more about how they see,” he said.
“The science shows they don’t see colours so well but they do see tones and contrast very well. The banding on our suits simply break up a sharks spatial resolution, so instead of looking like a slow moving object, a shark will conclude what they’re seeing could be lots of things therefore they don’t need to bite you to find out what you aren’t.”
Mr Lushey also says the bands mimicked various sea snakes and fish which scientist believe repelled sharks through a similar pattern of banding.
“Do they work 100 per cent? We’ll never know that,” he says. “But it has to be better than black. Every animal in the world uses colour to protect themselves but for some reason, we [surfers] have been jumping into a sharks habitat for years dressed as its favourite dish.”
The suit is also complimented by a sticker which when applied to the bottom of a surfboard offered sharks “a whole dazzle of shape and movement” which he says could deter a shark in the last few metres prior to an attack.
“Again, it’s a pretty simple point,” says Mr Lushey. “You can wear a black wetsuit and ride a white surfboard and look like a seal or you can use this system and at least have half a chance.”
Mr Lusheys’ points are backed up on the SAMS website, which also offers this piece of advice on its list of frequently asked questions;
“If my mate is wearing a warning suit, then I won’t have to, will I? Short answer: Yes you do, because while he/she may avoid attack, you are at greater risk. He might scare off a shark but then it may turn to you. ”
Regardless, southwest surfer Mike Bosich sought out one of the suits days after the fatal attack on Chris Boyd at Umbis in 2013.
“I’d left 20 minutes before that attack happened,” says Mr Bosich. “It had a huge impact on the surfing community, surfers stopped surfing, cared less about the waves and that (Ellensbrook) stretch of coastline became barren. Often mine was the only car in the car park.”
He says he was further swayed by evidence presented on the Radiator website but also understood the wetsuit and sticker did not offer guaranteed safety.
“The idea of being conspicuous and broken up made a lot of sense to me as opposed to wearing a black wetsuit that simply imitates a seal,” Mr Bosich says. “There is no guarantee that the stripy design on the bottom of your board and on your wetty will save your life, but hopefully it might reduce the severity of injury, confuse ole sharky and give you a chance to get to the shore. I love surfing and cherish this region but the game has changed and the psychology of surfing down here is different now.”
The WA Government also contributed funds to the development of shark repelling fins which are currently being designed by another West Australian company, Shark Shield (see image at right). Shark Shield currently manufacture the Surf 7, an electronic shark-deterring devices designed to be worn while surfing (see image below). However, managing director Lyndsay Lyon admits while the device is effective, it’s design, which incorporates a reasonably bulky leg attachment and a 2 metre trailing antenna, was not always practical.
“The current model is fine for surfing a mal or SUP, but it doesn’t really suit performance surfing on a short board because of its trailing antenna and the way it’s configured,” Mr Lyon says. “The new system will see miniature electrodes fitted in a grip pad and fins, both of which will be removable so you can use them throughout your entire quiver.”
Shark Shield is designed to ward off sharks in the immediate vicinity by creating a “three-dimensional electrical wave form which creates a very unpleasant sensation impacting a shark’s “Ampulle of Lorenzini”, small gel filled sacs located on a sharks’ snout.
“The biggest hurdle we’ve had to face is the ridiculous myth that Shark Shields attract sharks,’’ says Mr Lyon. “That myth is absolute rubbish. It is impossible to transmit electrical current through water for any distance. And the furthest a shark can detect electrical current is 50 centimeters.”
Tom Carroll was recently signed on to assist Shark Shield with the design of the fins although Mr Lyon would not name which fin company would be manufacturing the product which are due for release in “about nine to twelve months.”
Interestingly, My Lyon says he doesn’t wear a Shark Shield due to its current design and the fact he was not particularly concerned about the threat of shark attack.
“I ride either a 6’2 or 6’8 so I need as little drag as possible,” he says. “But my brother also rides a 6’8 and wears his all the time. But he also surfs sparsely populated areas prone to shark sightings so he is concerned. I mainly surf Perth metro beaches so it’s not as much of a concern for me.”
Ultimately, sales of both Radiator’s shark deterring wetsuit and Shark Shield have yet to record a surge in sales, which would suggest most surfers are clinging to the one solid piece of evidence. For all the attacks, sightings and near misses, there were just four fatal attacks nation-wide last year.
“Honestly I think if your number's up that’s that,” reasons Mr Bosich. “It’s what we're lucky enough to do: check forecasts, get up early, get prepared, get excited about the anticipation of great waves with like-minded people and it should be without worrying that we're not gonna make it home. I hope it never happens again. Ever.” //ANTHONY PANCIA
EDIT: The original version of this article stated there was only one death by shark attack in 2014.
See also Anthony Pancia's recent story on the Surf Safe shark deterrent device.
Comments
Great article. Good to get the latest info in regards to potential shark deterants. Cheers SN...
I'm waiting for the independent research on these. Definitely hopeful though.
"Death by shark, just (sadly) one." Just one hey? I can think of 3-4 off the top of my head.
Dressed as it's favourite dish 'eh?
I wish I had have worn my fried chicken print steamer when I was searching for my Maori princess on an NZ trip a few years back.
'Twas an error on our behalf MK1. Fixed now
Can see the headline now - " South African surfer mistaken for zebra by lion - mauled as he walked thru' bush to a remote surf break."
gold
You cant really compare the amount of car accidents and heart attacks with shark attacks as a lot less people surf than drive and there are way more non healthy surfers who have heart attacks that never enter the water.
I had noticed a few of those wetsuits around and just thought it was poor fashion sense but my steamer is getting a bit old so I'll think about it!
Ha Zoooming that could be a distinct possibility! You could also be endangered by a horny large sea snake
Is it just me or does it seem like invoking shark statistics is extremely misleading? Everyone drives or walks on the street. Everyone has a heart prone to heart disease. Not everyone surfs! I think some per capita stats might help you here.... moreover, this has been done for far too long. It has perhaps led us to a false state of confidence and hence why more people are surfing late, or in dangerous spots and are being attacked. Dare I invoke a recent cricket tragedy? Furthermore, if the threat is misunderstood to this extent then the likelihood of us actually doing something about it (like this zebra pattern wetsuit for instance- gimme gimme!) diminishes.
yep, agree. While its still an incredibly low probability event, there's a key group of ocean users making up the stats that are being applied to the whole population. You'd probably have to look at exposure levels or time in the water for a proper contrast.
http://theconversation.com/whats-the-real-risk-of-being-bitten-by-a-shar...
In estimating the personal risk of white shark bite, the WA Department of Fisheries has identified water depth, choice of water activity, distance from shore, water temperature, and the presence of marine mammals as important risk factors.
Based on these factors, the risk of a fatal white shark bite varies hugely. My analysis shows that for Perth beachgoers bathing within 25 metres of shore during summer (which is outside the whales' migration period), the risk is no more than 1 in 30 million per swim.
In contrast, for a diver more than 50 metres from shore, in cool waters more than 5 metres deep off WA’s southern coast, in the springtime when whales and their calves are close to shore, the risk may be as high as 1 in 15,000.
(PER DIVE - 12 dives per year for an avid recreational diver: 12/15,000 =.08% which is just under the heart disease rate).
Actually each shark attack would be an independant event.
Assuming the numbers were correct for the diver it would be :
1/15000 + 1/15000(14999/15000)^1 + 1/15000(14999/15000)^2 +1 /15000(14999/15000)^3 ... etc
You would arrive at a 0.013% chance about 1 in 7500. Which is still pretty insignificant
Good point! Cheers
What a business case for those wetsuits! Just make up some idea, don't release any scientific findings and say it should work, but may not. Please spend $500.
"Based on the science behind these suits, and the testing that has been done, we are confident that the likelihood of a shark attack is significantly reduced by using them."
"Confident" lol.
Although I may as well get the Posca's out and draw some stripes on the bottom of the deck if in fact this method does anything at all.
At least the guys at shark shield have released scientific research on their tech, too bad it's super bulky.
Here's a presentation on the wetsuit...
I've discovered the best way to avoid getting eaten, more than happy to pass it on and urge you to take it up -
Don't go surfing, especially at my favourite surf breaks
nothing is as good as freeing up the line up than a beach closure
port kembla's been closed a couple of days over the past 2 weeks also.. one of the beaches that doesn't have the meshing in illawarra..
no doubt there is an increase in some sharks over summer when the water temp rises.. but it makes me wonder if the over-zealous shark spotter planes are part of the reason for the extra sightings???.. perhpas the sharks are out there most of the time, but its only when the spotter planes are out that they start closing beaches...
I'd consider buying a shark shield system if the one that fits into the fins gets up and running..
Stripes are fine but Collingwood - never, ever. Mine will be a deep navy and white the grand old colours of Geelong.
+1. The greatest team of all. No sightings down here in Catland today.
Haha! This is a bunch of gimmicky, marketing nonsense if ever I've read.
When paddling or sitting on your board there's little more than your forearms and ankles in the water. What does it matter what colour your wetsuit is? It would make more sense to market these suits to divers.
Sea snakes are coloured like this to deter predators? Pretty sure sea snakes are not on the menu of sharks therefore their colouring is not in place to deter sharks.
If you want a feasible gimmick why not market scented wetsuits rather than these silly things, as it's the smell of its pray that draws a shark in. These suits are doing nothing more than trying to capitalise on people's fears.
There's a bit of stuff in that presentation regarding divers v surfers and their appropriate wetsuits. Obviously a pretty biased presentation but they claim to have completed independent research. The presentation certainly comes off as more of a marketing campaign than lecture.
"If you want a feasible gimmick why not market scented wetsuits rather than these silly things, as it's the smell of its pray that draws a shark in. These suits are doing nothing more than trying to capitalise on people's fears."
Hello123 I'm pretty sure it's the electrical sensory factors that sharks have (& smell) that assist with ditecting prey etc. It so easy to bag an idea, how about you & all the other skeptics out there contribute to the issue with a sensible solution rather than just hanging shit........
http://www2.fiu.edu/~heithaus/SBERP/projects/snakeres.html
Excerpt from the link ....."Because sea snakes are common prey of tiger sharks, we were interested in determining the seasonal patterns of their abundance and whether their habitat and microhabitat use changed in response to tiger sharks"
Personally i think they are onto something,think blue ringed octopus,its telling you to beware same as a sea snake.Heres another site been going for about 10 years ..
http://sharkcamo.blogspot.com.au/
Sadly you missed one of the best products on the market TODAY not in 9 to 12 months time. Check out SURFSAFE its a built in product that works a treat, has zero effect on handling of board and available for purchase today.. www.surfsafe.net.au
Personally, if a Great White approaches me it'd be flat out making out even a silhouette let alone colours, there'd be that much faeces billowing out of my sphincter .
Giant squids got nothing on me under threat of consumption.
Surfsafe, what the fuck is your vid with the White Pointer all about ? if that's a supposed deterrent vid you are fucking dreaming !
It repelled that White like burley repels tuna.
ray mason from phillip island had a board with diagonal yellow and green stripes circa 1974 explaining to me exacltly the same thing.i.e. sharks don't like sea snakes.had a pretty good success rate with elephants too
I had a mate back in the 70's who used to paint a big sort of teethy jaws mouth on the hulls of all his boards. Did it with housepaint. His theory was that a white shark coming up would see a big mouth and avoid him and go bite the next guy. I used to remind him that they roll their eyes back when they bite so his theory probably sucked, although I did get him to do a board for me. I didn't ride it much because it made me think about fucking sharks all the time.
We are all going to die, and frankly there's some pretty bad ways to go. For a surfer, to have the ocean take you I don't think is such a bad way to go. A shark attack wouldn't hurt much I don't think, the adrenaline would dull out the pain. A solid hit from a big predator and you would likely bleed out pretty quick. Over and out.
Beats rotting to death from cancer or killed by some dickhead on the road or any of the myriad of ways people go. Hey, you'd be a local legend, they'd be talking about you for years, the boardriders may even name a comp. after you. I was talking about this with a mate the other day and he said he was fine with it as long as the waves were pumping and it was somewhere decent so when it was on the news that night there wasn't a 1ft shorey in the background."Surfer killed riding this shit"
I say these things not out of disrespect to the loved ones of those lost to sharks. Anyone dying is a sad thing. A violent early death from an encounter with a wild animal is nothing to make light of. I just make the point that there are worse ways to go. I rarely think about sharks when I'm surfing, too busy trying to get a wave off all you fuckers. If I lived in WA I would probably get one though, the phrase "it's just a marketing device" sounds too much like famous last words to me.
yeah there is a certainly something special about that way of dying, the ocean takes you away...I understand what you are saying
heaps stripey wetsuits in the lineup here these days> More like just having a sign saying "i am scared of sharks" i reckon. Been getting my name written on stringer on my boards for years and havent been eaten yet, maybe just try that too? knobs. You really think sharks need to look for what they are going to eat? Way more advanced than that. Now not pissing in your wetsuit makes a lot more sense...
Well hard.
Thinking I might get mikehunt207 written on my stringer!
Got my mates name on my board that works great mike;)
can't say I'm convinced ..... although I'm probably going to hang up the old dolphin suit.
I'm going to totally blow my innocence here (age wise), but i and my old board maker, were playing around with these stripy things 35+ years ago. Back in those days, anything that made us feel more secure when surfing places like Chinamans (we all know where that is....i hope?) with but 3-4 of your mates, then to an extent it did it's job. ANYTHING that helped you feel a little more secure was a plus.
I am all for this progressive thinking. As surfers, we seem to inherently function on a different level to those who 'don't' surf'. Just because there are shark attacks, we don't instantly support destroying every shark in the ocean. For those dweebs (sorry guys for those who are still in their 20's) who are completely ignorant to the environmental necessities that sharks provide, just because you think you are the dominant species on the planet, then just put your toes in the water to realize that dominance changes "naturally" once you change the environment.
Lets just do our best to co-exist and respect each others dominance.
Good interview with WA shark legend Hugh Edwards at Tracks Mag site.
That was a fantastic read.
Do you believe an electronic device will deter a Great White.... this makes you wonder -
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/damning-video-shows-failure-of...
Holy hell...not good for business
Saw a doco on GWS at the Farralons (I think) where a mother Killer Whale killed a GWS and ate its liver. Instantly, the entire population of GWS beelined for Hawaii and was gone for months - there was some 'smell of death' that scared them badly. You'd want to find that aroma and bottle it.
@thespleen, not hard, just find it hard to believe some people think a fish that has been top of the food chain in the ocean for hundreds of thousands of years if not millions hunts by looking at it,s prey(thats some super eyesight) shit half of the comments are about sharks in "murkey water "even , so by wearing a stripey wetsuit you are going to fool them into thinking you are something else and a sea snake at that! Why not paint yourself up as an Orca? seems they are actually scared of them too .
you would be like a baby orca, nice entree
Just tie this to the back of your board. http://www.ebay.com/bhp/inflatable-whale
GoldCoaster Bill Morrison invented a electronic shark barrier supposedly used at the Quik pro a few times but deemed to be to expensive ,$5k per comp
Bill says had his system been in place at Jbay, Fannings attack would not have happened.
Big call to say it "wouldn't have happened". Might certainly have "dramatically reduced the chances" but to completely elimate the potential?
Marketing hype from the inventor.
Let's assume zoseas are now looking to ensure they fully exercise their 'duty of care', and install some such device or system. Maybe the company producing them can give it to zoseas for free, or at cost, to get the exposure and marketing out there ... then, what 'if' another attack went down?
Said shark repellent company will be gone overnight, and or, scurrying around saying 'we never said 100%, there was no guarantee' ... perspectives will change quickly as soon as one fails.
There are some interesting concepts here and I believe a layered effort of sight, smell and SOUND should be considered. I recall recently reading an article about an Orca attack in South Australia and how that after the attack the GWS population in the attack area was reduced to nil. My logical recommendation would be to hava a sound device on the bottom of the safety boats/skis emmiting Orca attack or Orca Pod sounds. To be honest this would be a very cost effective solution and an experiment that could easily be conducted. I'm still in the firm belief that there is no one solution to ensuring our safety, however, more of a layered approach to shark senses inclusive of electrical pulses... There is that or the Chinese solution... Shark fin soup
https://sharkeyes.com.au/
Shark eyes deterant founded by genuine abalone diver / surfers / watermen .