INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS SHARKSAFE BARRIER™?
The SharkSafe Barrier™ is the ideal eco-friendly solution designed to safely separate sharks from beachgoers, without harming the marine environment. Developed over 17 years of extensive research and testing, it significantly reduces the risk of shark-human encounters. Already deployed at two beaches in The Bahamas, the barrier not only enhances coastal safety but also supports regenerative tourism, offering a transformative approach to addressing the shark-human conflict.
SOLUTION
Our tested barrier technology reduces the chances of shark encounters by combining a visual and magnetic deterrent. The eco-friendly SharkSafe Barrier™ is designed to be recognised by sharks as a natural obstacle, as it mimics the visual appearance of a dense kelp forest (large marine seaweeds). The barrier also contains large ceramic magnets that create a strong magnetic field within a 2 m radius, preventing sharks from swimming through it.
It is built for robustness, preventing entanglement, allowing boats to pass through, and withstanding strong ocean conditions with staggered rows of vertical recycled HDPE pipes. The SharkSafe Barrier™ can be securely anchored on rocky, sandy, and mixed-substrate seafloors.
Other marine life, such as seals, manatees, and bony fish, can freely swim through it, and it has been shown to increase local biomass by functioning as a thriving artificial reef.
OUR VISION
PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE
At SharkSafe Barrier™ our vision is to provide effective and sustainable solutions to mitigate the shark-human conflict, redefining the way humans interact with the world’s oceans
OUR MISSION
INNOVATION & SUSTAINABILITY
Our mission at SharkSafe Barrier™ is to stop global shark cull policies through innovation, research, and education, all while contributing to social and economic growth. We are committed to developing innovative solutions to shark culling, grounded in thorough research, that contribute to ocean conservation
OUR VALUES
AT THE CORE OF SHARKSAFE
INTEGRITY
We are committed to cultivating and preserving a robust reputation. At our core, we prioritise honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour in both customer service and internal management.
PROFESSIONALISM
Our team is our greatest asset. Each member of our team is aligned to our mission and contributes with their unique and invaluable skills.
PASSION FOR THE OCEAN
Marine conservation is critical to our decision-making.
PROBLEM
SHARK-HUMAN CONFLICT
The trauma experienced by coastal communities after shark accidents often results in a decline in beach usage and a subsequent loss of income for local businesses and tourism activities. Although there are only an average of 7 to 8 fatal shark accidents worldwide each year, a single incident at Ballina Beach (Australia) caused a US$200,000 loss in sales for a local surf shop. Similarly, the 19 shark incidents recorded between 2011 and 2016 on La Réunion Island resulted in an annual loss of US$23 million in tourism revenue.
Historically, the shark-human conflict has been addressed through baited hooks (drumlines) and shark nets (gillnets), fishing gear intended to target and reduce populations of large sharks as a way to minimise encounters.
Gillnets are illegal in South Africa due to high levels of bycatch, yet they continue to be used in shark control programs, where 80% of the animals killed are species listed as protected on the IUCN Red List. Furthermore, the targeting of large sharks has triggered cascading negative effects on marine ecosystems, in an ocean where 100 million sharks are already being killed every year.
It is our responsibility to redirect national and international shark control programs away from shark-culling and towards modern, sustainable management approaches.
WHAT WE DO
Our Services
- An in-depth survey of each area of deployment
- South Africa manufactured SharkSafe Barrier™ kit
- Installation in partnership with local, on the ground teams
- Training of a local team for ongoing monitoring and maintenance
- Shipped worldwide
The initial survey is crucial to optimize the SharkSafe Barrier™ design and installation to the specific site, and to provide a realistic cost estimate.
Due to the need to combine the knowledge in the field of shark behaviour with coastal engineering, the established SharkSafe Barrier™ team personally conduct all site surveys.