ABOUT
OUR PRODUCT
SharkSafe Barrier™ successfully biomimics the visual effects of a thick kelp forest, and combines this with a series of permanent magnetic stimuli, to form a barrier that dissuades sharks from passing through.
The SharkSafe Barrier™ is the first effective and eco-friendly solution to protect humans from sharks without harming the marine life.
BENEFITS
WHY SHARKSAFE BARRIER™?
Being shark-specific, the SSB provides an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional anti-shark devices such as shark nets and drumlines.
TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION
Research has indicated that large sharks avoid entering thick kelp forests. Furthermore, it has been proven that a strong magnetic field can deter shark species.
The SharkSafe Barrier™ is thus composed of an array of multiple vertical tubes (SSB Units) that biomimics a thick forest of kelp. The proprietary magnetic technology, that creates a repellent unique to sharks, is embedded in the outer row of Units to create an effective magnetic screen.
The SSB Units are manufactured from recycled HDPE, they are vertically buoyant, anchored to the seafloor, and extend up to 0.25 meters above the surface at high tide.
COMMERCIAL INSTALLATIONS
Bahamas Beach Protection
The eco-friendly SharkSafe Barrier™ technology is successfully protecting two beaches in The Bahamas. The first installation, a 30-metre section completed in August 2023, has proven its durability through rough seas and hurricanes. Based on these results, the same client commissioned a second 16-metre barrier in August 2025, confirming their satisfaction with the system’s performance.
The Bahamas has shown consistent leadership in ocean conservation. In 2011, it established the first shark sanctuary in the Atlantic Ocean, followed by the Marine Action Partnership (MAP) for Sustainable Fisheries in 2018. Today, shark tourism contributes around US$100 million per year to the local economy, highlighting the value of protecting these species and their habitats.
Each SharkSafe Barrier™ combines high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes manufactured by KND Fabrications in Maitland, Cape Town, and stainless-steel components produced by TFD in Stellenbosch. During installation, the buoyant pipes are mounted on a grid-like structure, spaced one metre apart, with ceramic magnets positioned along the ocean-facing row. The grid is then weighted with 200-kilogram, limpet-shaped concrete blocks and secured with substrate-specific anchors to ensure stability in varying seabed conditions.
This technology offers a practical, non-lethal alternative to traditional shark-control methods, creating safer swimming areas while protecting marine ecosystems. It’s a valuable solution for coastal regions that depend on ocean recreation and tourism — including South Africa, Brazil, New Caledonia, The Bahamas, and Réunion.
More information LINK: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10273
SCIENTIFIC TESTS
PREVIOUS WORKS
Earlier prototypes of the SharkSafe Barrier™ were installed in The Bahamas and in South Africa from 2012 to 2016. The purpose was to prove the efficacy of the technology to deter bull sharks and white sharks from entering a set area.
The first commercial installation of the latest product design was successfully exported to Reunion Island in January 2019, for the Shark Security Centre (CSR). The installation in St Paul, Reunion, consisted of a 10mx10m square (on the inside) built with 200 SSB Units.
The SSB Units required minimal maintenance for 24 months and withstood two years of winter storms at Reunion (See in video from 1:30). The installation was removed in April 2021, at the end of the project.
HISTORY
THE ORIGINS OFSHARKSAFE BARRIER™
The concept of the SharkSafe Barrier™ was conceived in 2011 when Mike Rutzen met marine biologist Dr. Craig O’ Connell.
Mike, during his free diving sessions with white sharks, had noticed that sharks did not swim through the local kelp forests, even when pursuing cape fur seals. This inspired the idea for a visual barrier biomimicking a forest of kelp, to have the potential to become the first eco-friendly alternative to the conventional shark nets. Craig, who was exploring the use of electrosensory stimuli, such as permanent magnets, to repel sharks from commercial fishing gear and beach nets as part of his PhD project, came to South Africa to test his magnets on the white sharks. The two joined forces and combined their knowledge.
The SharkSafe Barrier™ technology was developed and tested on bull sharks and white sharks from 2012 to 2016. The SharkSafe Barrier™ proved to be 100% effective in deterring sharks under controlled testing, and after years of rigorous trials, the results were published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
SharkSafe Barrier™ deployed in Gansbaai (South Africa) for full scale testing of its efficacy on white sharks