Sources : https://www.sharksafesolution.com/our-product/

Shark-human interactions, while statistically rare, can lead to overweighted social and economic impacts on coastal communities including reduced tourism and public fear. Traditional shark deterrent measures often involve lethal approaches, which can harm ecosystems and protected species. SharkSafe Barrier™ was conceived to protect both humans and sharks by mimicking natural deterrents and combining them with magnetic technology to discourage sharks from entering specific ocean zones without killing or injuring them. 

SharkSafe Barrier™ is an innovative, eco-friendly marine safety technology designed to separate sharks from popular coastal swimming and surfing areas without causing harm to sharks or other marine life. Developed over more than a decade of research and real-world testing, it offers a practical, sustainable alternative to traditional shark control methods like nets and drumlines. 

The idea emerged from observations of how sharks behave in their natural environment; they tend to avoid dense kelp forests and strong magnetic fields. Scientists and conservationists translated these biological insights into the design of the barrier over years of development and testing, including highly successful field trials. 

Sources : https://www.sharksafesolution.com/our-product/

SharkSafe Solution was founded by a multidisciplinary team of marine conservation experts and engineers dedicated to creating an eco-friendly alternative to lethal shark control methods. The company’s co-founders include marine biologist Dr. Sara Andreotti, who specialises in white shark research and serves as COO and a founding director; Michael (Mike) Rutzen, a renowned shark behaviour specialist and conservationist; Prof. Conrad Matthee, a zoology and evolutionary ecology professor with extensive academic leadership experience; and Laurie Barwell, an experienced coastal engineer responsible for the design and technical development of the SharkSafe Barrier™ technology. Together, they combined insights from shark behaviour, biology, and engineering to develop this innovative solution.

Source : https://www.sharksafesolution.com/our-product/

The SharkSafe Barrier™ is a nature-inspired, eco-friendly marine safety system designed to protect swimmers, surfers and beachgoers by deterring sharks without harming them or other marine life. The barrier consists of an array of vertical, buoyant high-density polyethylene (HDPE) tubes anchored to the seabed and spaced to mimic the visual appearance of a dense kelp forest a natural environment sharks instinctively avoid. Embedded within the outer row of these tubes are strong, permanent ceramic magnets that generate a magnetic field, which overstimulates sharks’ electromagnetic sensory organs and further discourages them from entering the protected zone. This dual “visual and magnetic” deterrent has been shown to prevent sharks from passing through designated areas while allowing other marine animals such as seals, fish and boats to move freely, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional shark nets and drumlines.

SharkSafe Barrier™ has secured initial investment support from a notable conservation-oriented fund. In 2023, SharkSafe Barrier™ received a US$250,000 strategic investment from CI Ventures (Conservation International Ventures), a fund focused on backing innovative solutions that support biodiversity and sustainable coexistence between humans and nature. This investment helped scale testing and deployment across different marine conditions and locations.  The investment reflects the broader conservation community’s interest in non-lethal, sustainability-focused shark risk mitigation technologies. 

Final Thought

SharkSafe Barrier™ represents an innovative and humane approach to managing the long-standing challenge of shark-human interactions. By combining scientific insight with sustainable engineering, the product offers a non-lethal, environmentally sensitive alternative to traditional control methods protecting beachgoers while maintaining vibrant marine ecosystems.  

References

Andreotti, S., Rutzen, M., Barwell, L., & Matthee, C. (n.d.). The SharkSafe Barrier™: Protecting humans and sharks. SharkSafe Solution. https://www.sharksafesolution.com

SharkSafe Solution. (n.d.). Our product: SharkSafe Barrier™. https://www.sharksafesolution.com/our-product

SharkSafe Solution. (n.d.). The team protecting humans and sharks. https://www.sharksafesolution.com/team-protecting-humans-and-sharks

SharkSafe Solution. (2023). SharkSafe Barrier™ receives investment from CI Ventures. https://www.sharksafesolution.com/sharksafe-barrier-civ-investment

Conservation International. (2023). CI Ventures supports shark conservation and coexistence with SharkSafe Barrier™ investment. https://www.conservation.org/press/Conservation-International-Ventures-Supports-Shark-Conservation-and-Coexistence-with-SharkSafe-Barriers-Investment

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas
Reviewer     : Imam Buchari