Developing a Shark-Safe Beach Protection Net

Summary

The beach protection nets used now are designed to kill sharks. They are effective and also kill many dolphins, rays, turtles, and whales. A new type of net will be developed to eliminate these losses

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

There is no need to kill thousands of creatures to protect beaches. Both the beaches and the creatures can be protected.

How will this project solve this problem?

We propose to make an alternative shark net, with webbing that conducts electricity. Sharks and rays detect even very low levels of electromagnetic field and will avoid the net. The net would be powered by solar collectors.

Potential Long Term Impact

The nets should also be highly detectable to cetaceans because the conductive material will also reflect echolocation signals. Because sharks will detect and avoid the nets, the mesh size can be increased to reduce turtle mortality.

Project Message

“How many more sharks and other harmless animals must be killed before meshing is removed?”
- Dr. John Paxton, Research Fellow in Ichthylology, Australian Museum

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources