Shark Shields: Electric, Chemical Repellents Show Promise

[emad]

Shark Shields: Electric, Chemical Repellents Show Promise

James Owen
for National Geographic News

July 20, 2005

Recent shark attacks in Florida have sparked the now customary feeding frenzy in the media. Before Florida it was South Africa, where last month a medical student was eaten by a 16-foot (5-meter) great white near Cape Town.

Shark-conservation groups point out that you're more likely to be killed by a falling coconut than a shark. Nevertheless, coconuts don't have multiple rows of big, razor-sharp teeth, nor can they swallow you whole.

If our fear of sharks doesn't reflect the actual chances of being attacked, how do we put our minds at ease? When will it seem safe to go back in the water?

Scientists are developing coastal shark deterrents aimed at reducing both the risk of attacks and the perceived risk of attacks. The new tools include electronic beach shields and chemical repellents. Ironically, such deterrents could also help save sharks from even deadlier killers—humans.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/07/0720_050720_sharkshields.html