A new study showed that the use of electronic devices that are designed to repel sharks could prevent more than 1,000 people from shark bites in the next 50 years. These electronic shark deterrents could help people potentially avoid injury and death if spread across other regions where shark attacks are common.
The research, entitled "Predicting potential future reduction in shark bites on people," published in the scientific journal Royal Society Open Science, showed that strategies that reduce the risk of shark bites are also valuable even though these events are rare because they can severely affect victims both physically and psychologically.
Predictive Impact of Electronic Shark Deterrents
Using the data from the Australian Shark Attack File curated by Taronga Conservation Society Australia, lead author Professor Corey Bradshaw of Flinders University and his team could make a predictive model that estimates the effects of electronic shark deterrents.
According to the data they gathered, there were about 985 shark attacks from 1900 to 2020 from different shark species.
Shark Shield, a commercially available electronic shark deterrent, and other electronic deterrents produce an electric field that could interfere with sharks' electroreceptive system. It is a sense controlled by a network of sensors o the head of sharks.
The researchers said that some people were already using such devices, and more people are starting to use them, ZME Science reported. The likelihood of encountering or being bitten by sharks would be reduced by around 60% if divers could use these devices.
Moreover, the researchers said that the cost of using electronic shark deterrents would be offset by the revenue gained from businesses in the related tourism industry.
But researchers cautioned people that the device is not 100% perfect and should still be extra careful regardless of whether they use such devices.
Sharks Will Also Benefit From This Device
The Star reported that about 15% of shark attacks result in a human fatality, and over half of these recorded shark attacks happened in the United States. But experts believe that the real numbers are still underreported.
Other commonly known places where shark attacks happen are in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, and the French territory Reunion Island in the western Indian Ocean.
In retaliation for these attacks, sharks have been targeted, leading to their dwindling numbers, especially the great white sharks, which are classified in the IUCN Red List of threatened species and the critically endangered sawfish.
The researchers believe that with fewer shark attacks, injuries, and deaths, the pressure on hunting these vulnerable species will also lessen.
"If fewer people have negative incidents with sharks, then the incentive to kill 'problem' sharks either directly through hunting or with beach nets and drumlines could be reduced," Bradshaw said.
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