Researchers are experimenting with a new electric barrier system that could protect swimmers from shark attacks, without harming the ocean predators.
The new technology comes from the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board in South Africa and could be a major step forward in making coastlines even safer for swimmers and surfers.
It works like this: a 328 foot cable with vertical "risers" is being placed on the seabed off Glencairn beach, where it will stay for five months. The risers will emit a low-frequency electronic field that should keep sharks away.
The reason the field works is because of a special type of gel in the noses of sharks, which allow them to detect small electrical fields such as a heartbeat in order to find prey. When a shark approaches the barrier, the power of the electric current should be enough to turn them away.
Better yet, the field has no effects on humans, mammals or other marine life that lack the electric current sensitivity. If a human happened to come in contact with one of the exposed electrical nodes on the seabed, experts say they would experience a tingling sensation and nothing more.
"If successful, it will provide the basis to develop a barrier system that can protect bathers without killing or harming sharks or any other marine animals," says the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board.
It's a major step forward, especially in South Africa, where anti-shark methods like shark nets have been criticized for killing other animals and harming the environment.
"We are doing our damndest to do something environmentally friendly," sharks board project specialist Paul von Blerk told the AFP.
Environmental groups are praising the experiment, which if successful will be expanded upon. Alison Kock, a biological scientist and research manager for Shark Spotters in Cape Town, says to AFP that she thinks the project is "a really good idea."
"It's an exciting opportunity to look at new technology with the ultimate aim of replacing lethal control methods like shark nets and (baited) drum lines," Kock says.
The group does have challenges. Building something that rests on the sea floor, which is constantly shifting with the power of the surf, is one problem, while dealing with electricity and water is another major issue. But if the project proves successful, it could mean big changes for beaches worldwide.
