"It just consumed me" // The world's first proven shark repellant
'If it bleeds, it leads" is the old news mantra, and it still applies today because shark stories rate well. It's as simple as that. Yet there's another aspect that's less explored and also less cynical, and I don't know if it applies to all news outlets but it's definitely the case on Swellnet.
That being, the search for a shark deterrent and the exchange of ideas it generates. Rather than merely scaring the wits out of readers, many shark stories provoke an extended comment section exploring initiatives around shark deterrence. Shark Shields™, magnets, intervention by bad-arse Orcas, crypto-wetsuits, or the stench of dead sharks, all have been picked apart by punters and the odd expert visiting our comment sections.
Outside Online have just published a longform article that includes up-to-date research on the issue. Among other things the article details how chemicals taken from dead sharks can succesfully repel sharks, although, and this next bit is important to Aussie surfers, it doesn't (yet) work on Great Whites.
A South African company has synthesized the chemicals which will deter Bull Sharks and Blacktips, the two species responsible for the most attacks in the US. Great whites though, are Lamnidae sharks and fundamentally different to Bulls and Blacktips.
It's worth a read, not just cos it's well-written, but also to get up to speed on all the developing shark deterrent products.
Comments
Well that was as unconvincing as this...
It just confused me! I am close to buying two shark shields (one for me and one for my partner) but from the tone of this article, he is not satisfied they work. “I have yet to see an anti-shark device that I, somebody who studies sharks and shark attacks, would plop down money for.”
Should I be spending $1200 on two SharkShields? I often hesitate going out on my own around the quiet beaches of NNSW (Pottsville area) and thought the SS could keep us both safe (physically and mentally).
Brand new - Unused Shark Shield $ 325 Ebay.
yeah but Chilli Wax is supposed to be the best shark repellant
this looks interesting... seems to deter them ?!?
Was this just a ad for the band device?
Sharkscamz ,,
I believe for it to work you will need a splash of Eau de Real Thing, Parfum De Great White.
A few 'shark nerds' hanging out in a commune , listening to rap music and making synthetic substances, is apparently the 'holy grail of sorts for a certain set of ichthyologists and entrepreneurs '.
i got some a chilli wax pack from a relative for my birthday.had a smell,and i'm convinced i'd be basting myself.crystals work well too
A modern take on the snake oil salesman - the shark oil salesman.
Take it how you like it from this proud Shark Shield ambassador - Shark Shield has been proven to deter shark encounter by the most stringent independent studies carried out on Shark Deterrents funded by the West Australian Government. Seek these results yourself by following links at SharkShield.com.
Unfortunately this article is a huge let down form an otherwise great publication whom I understood took their journalists seriously. Obviously not so and yet another sell your product by humans fear of sharks tag. If the journalist was serious about his own research he may have thought to inform readers of who uses shark deterrents on a daily basis to provide an income. South Australian Abalone divers all use Shark Shield Freedom Dive device to protect their cages, they are known to have the most Great White encounters of any other humans on the planet. Then Charles ends his piece with a sad and barely conclusive description of a cage dive experience, describing what I take as a lack of respect for the shark itself by Sharkchemz partner Davis Mersereau who spent "30 seconds in a shark cage before tapping out"...because he couldn't see a shark. Kind-a dumb really
South Oz Ab divers all use Shark Shield Freedom devices to protect there.........Cages ?
kinda dumb really
It's by state law that Abalone divers in South Australia have to both use cages and Shark Shield. Talk to the Ab divers yourself, I will assume they know a hell of a lot more about sharks than you or I.
It's by state law that Abalone divers in South Australia have to both use cages and Shark Shield. Talk to the Ab divers yourself, I will assume they know a hell of a lot more about sharks than you or I.
Where can i read about that Law Tommy ?
Thats the same rule for Cage diving for tourism as well ?
Looks pretty convincing here....
That vid posted above is really well done and is the sort of experiment that's almost credible, all they have to do is attract a few hungry Great whites and do the same thing.....surely this cant be that hard to do out around the Neptune Islands and hope fully they will have the same result as above......but why haven't they?
Standby Simba, may take some time but it will happen. We have already placed a similar decoy's amongst hungry GW at South Neptune Island with strong results which wasn't captured very well for all to witness conclusively. Capturing over and over these results is our mission. Time will tell. I certainly have faith in this product doing its work as the best option available on the market if you want to feel safe. All devices are a seat belt/crash helmet measure.
Lets face it..until someone jumps over the side at neptunes freely and doesnt get eaten then it will be more believable...my mate has a sharkshield in his board and he keeps getting zapped....we reckon they scare away dolphins as well?...and in the usual surf shit talk we were laughing as someone came up with the theory if one person has a sharkshield and others next to him didnt, we would be more susceptible to getting eaten as he would be protected and we arent...so the locals wanted to ban him!!! Poor bugger he felt like a muzzie in america haha
Hahaha Barley yeah us Humans, we are so positively gracious and all knowing. Sharks on the other hand...
Tom Carroll
Can you provide the link/ info to it being S.A. law Abalone divers having to use Shark cage and a sharkshield ?
No mention Of Rpela by Surfsafe from WA.
Due to a number of incidents between Byron and the Gong a couple of years ago I researched as much as I could on the web and decided Rpela was the one for me
So I coughed up the coin and put them in my boards as the device is transferable I can swap it between boards without a hassle.
Just feel safer with them, sort of like insurance, put it in my son's board as well
Not trying to sell them, persuade anyone to buy one and I have no investment or association with the company just got sick of feeling uneasy when surfing quiet beaches and I now feel safe even if I am out solo on the far north coast.
Read something about NSW government doing a bunch of tests on all of the products but have not heard of the results, I think there was a senate hearing as well but again have not seen or heard of any results or findings
I,m pretty sure cages and sharkshields are not compulsory in the South Oz commercial abalone industry.
Heard about Rpela too.....how do you install it brownie?
I have someone do it as I am useless...unless you get a custom and the shaper wants to do it, otherwise its a retro fit
Before man polluted the oceans Orca pods were naturally the ocean's apex predator.
Orca can't breed in polluted water so with man's assistance Sharks ruled the oceans.
More fishing reserves are protected, increases breeding grounds for apex predator.
In turn Orca are now bumping out the Great White Sharks from cleaner reserves.
Pairs of Orcas,Whale,Dolphin & Canine can & do hunt down or even repel shark.
All these larger pack creatures share the gift of ultrasound.
As a team they work to immobilize & drown Shark or to flip access to underside.
One locks onto the Shark whilst the other charges to ram or attack sensitive Liver.
One Orca holds the Shark as other ultrasounds & surgically removes nutritious liver.
Increasingly Great Whites are washed ashore with precise surgical incisions.
Everything seems normal, albeit apart from missing their fatty tasty livers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7410117/Great-white-shar...
Sharks sense & fear pack animals that can herd & drown to kill so instinctively.
Sharks can't sense or fear lame weaponized humans as being a natural born threat.
A Lone Shark is only frightened by said pack of creatures that can locate it's vitals.
It's only natural that creatures with ultrasound can scare a shark from the lineup.
tbb's low cost (no warranty) Shark Deterrent options.
1)Surf Patrol Trials- deploy 2 dogs to ward off sharks from both beach or Line-up.
Rid sharks + track & retrieve swimmers/drowned bodies not a bad beach combo.
2)Dual Ultrasound shark deterrents fine tuned to pack animal frequency should work.
Based off past Dog Whistle (Underwater) or Old Saltwater dolphin echolocation.
Consider US Marine Parks would have recordings of Orca's signature ultrasound
3)(Synthetic) Orca oil board polish & waxing additive + small well with Drip-valve!
Myth: Sharks smell one drop of blood in Ocean! (1 drop of Orca Oil may clear lineup.)
4) Wash Boardies & Wetties in Dog bath dregs, rank odour will clear out the lineup!
Possibly work to deter sharks as well.
5) Sub sonic speakers blasting out (Flipper / Free Willy / Lassie) Soundtracks.
[WARNING-Playlist Ban]
Thursday 17th Oct 2019 (Yesterday) Bribie Island Qld. (Shark bumps'n'bites board)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7586871/Teenage-surfer-Riley-Br...
Qld's unusual spate of Shark attacks climbs to 11 since 19th Sept 2018 {rip}
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2018/02/27/factfile-fact...