The Rpela V2, a device mounted on surfboards and designed to deter sharks from biting, has been found to reduce the likelihood of attack by 66%, according to tests conducted earlier this year off the coast of Western Australia.
The study also showed that the Rpela V2 had a 38% decrease in shark interactions, potentially giving surfers more time to exit after they have been confronted by predators. The testing was carried out at Salisbury Island southeast of Esperance, a remote hotspot for white sharks.
The rechargeable device, which clips into the surfboard’s bottom deck, produces an electric field around the surfer that overwhelms the shark’s electro-reception organs which they use to navigate and assess their surroundings. The device is expected to retail for around $500.
The electric pulses do not harm the creatures. Researchers compared the sensation to humans moving away from unpleasantly loud music.
The work a collaborative effort led by global engineering company Cardno and Bond University’s Dr. Daryl McPhee, who specializes in sharks for his career as an expert. He was assisted by Ocean Ramsey, famous for her extensive free diving with large white sharks.
Dr. McPhee said surfers were at a much higher risk than other water users when it came to being bitten by sharks, so he recommended their own personal mitigation measures designed specifically for boardriders -which includes wearing protective gear and staying alert while out in the ocean.
“There are many different individual shark deterrents available but most, including some that are very popular, are not effective or have not been independently tested,” he said.
“This means surfers may put themselves at risk thinking they have an additional layer of protection when they do not.”
[…] Source: https://www.sharkophile.com/2021/10/14/new-shark-deterrent-may-reduce-interactions-with-surfers/ […]