Sightings of sharks in the vicinity of beaches are not frequent, but when they appear, the effects are extensive. There are often beach closures, cancellations, tense customers, and lost image, all of which last long after the sharks have disappeared. For asset owners, tourism operators, and authorities responsible for the coasts, the question is simple: How can you keep people safe without harming the very attraction that brought them in the first place?
This is where the SharkSafe Barrier ™ makes a difference.
The Issue: High-Use Coastal Safety Anxiety
Sharks are crucial to healthy oceans. As apex predators, they control food chains and help maintain balance in the oceans. However, when sharks are seen near beaches, marinas, and resorts, perceptions quickly shift to fear despite important statistics showing that shark encounters are infrequent.
When it comes to shark sightings, the effects of fear can be dire:
- Visitors are afraid to go in the water.
- Beach operators are under pressure to close beaches.
- There is economic instability in local communities.
- Asset owners have reputational and liability issues.
Traditionally, a number of areas reacted through fatal or invasive control tactics like shark nets or culling schemes. Although these measures were intended to minimize risk, they created additional issues of their own. Conventional nets can trap dolphins, turtles, rays, and other non-targeted species, causing harm to the ecosystem.
In a modern world where sustainability, environmental responsibility, and ESG promises are increasingly becoming more important than ever, these old-fashioned solutions are no longer relevant.
The Answer: A Smarter, Non-lethal Solution with SharkSafe Barrier
The SharkSafe Barrier was engineered to overcome this very obstacle- to come up with a science-based, non-lethal shark deterrent system that does not harm the sharks or marine life and keeps people safe.
The SharkSafe Barrier™ does not entrap or kill sharks; rather, it alters their behavior.
How It Works
The system involves two very potent scientific principles:
1. Biomimicry (Design of Nature)
The barrier has a vertical structure that resembles thick kelp forests. The barrier is aesthetically marked to signal a new, unwelcoming territory, making it less appealing to sharks.
2. Magnetic Deterrence
The barrier produces a magnetic field that interacts with the sharks. Sharks are highly sensitive to electroreception, so interacting with the barrier is unpleasant, but not hurtful. However, it is uncomfortable enough to make the sharks stay away.
All these combine to generate a psychological and sensory barrier, and not a physical trap.
Working With the Ocean, Not Against It
The SharkSafe Barrier is designed to be deployed in a real marine setting over a long period:
- No electricity required
- Constructed with heavy, corrosion-resistant materials.
- Scalable and modular to other shoreline lengths.
- Free flow of fish, turtles, and other marine species.
The barrier in most occurrences acts as a kind of artificial reef, promoting marine biodiversity as opposed to inhibiting it.
It is not a mere safety product; it is an environmentally friendly coastal management solution.
Installation: Sea Me Dive Installed and Supported
The use of technology is just a component of the equation. Installation, maintenance, and long-term servicing are important for performance and reliability.
Sea Me Dive has a role to play there.
Sea Me Dive has been involved in commercial diving, marine operations as well as underwater infrastructure, and therefore, SharkSafe Barrier systems are:
- Fitted with accuracy depending on the site factors.
- Fastened down to stand the weather.
- Periodically checked and maintained to achieve prolonged performance.
Sea Me Dive is a reliable implementation partner between the surface and the bottom of the sea, between planning and deployment, as well as continuous support.
The Result: Safety, Trust, and Confidence Re-established
What comes after a SharkSafe Barrier is installed?
Improved Safety Perception
A positive result that can be observed within the shortest time is the improvement in the level of confidence in the guests. Swimmers, snorkelers, and even beach visitors say they feel safer knowing there is an active, non-lethal, science-based deterrent system protecting the area.
Better Asset Owner and Operator Trust
In the case of resorts, marinas, or coastal developments, the barrier is a strong message:
- Safety and sustainability are observed
This commitment helps enhance relationships with guests, regulators, and local communities and supports the brand’s reputation.
- Minimization of Operational Disruptures
Reducing the risk of shark attacks around high-use areas will help operators to decrease precautionary closures and reactive decisions to improve the flow of operations and predictable visitation outcomes.
- Risk Management Positive Impact
Although the effects of insurance depend on the location and insurer, SharkSafe Barrier is perceived by many asset owners as a risk-proactive investment. Responsible and science-based protection efforts can also play a constructive role in the context of liability exposure and insurance.
Environmental CSR and ESG Advantages
The SharkSafe Barrier has, perhaps most importantly, compliance with new environmental principles:
- No harm to sharks
- No bycatch
- No ecosystem disruption
This will create easier ways for organisations to achieve sustainability and become leaders in responsible ocean solutions.
A New Coastal Standard
The implementation of SharkSafe Barrier™ installations signals a change in the approach to coastal safety. Destinations can protect people and nature rather than forcing a choice between them.
With increasing climate consciousness and the emergence of more environmentally aware travelers, solutions such as the SharkSafe Barrier™ are a tactic.
Take the Next Step
Learn why SharkSafe Barrier™, installed and sponsored by Sea Me Dive, can help people be safer, create trust and preserve marine life without disrupting the ocean you love.
FAQs
1. Does the SharkSafe Barrier harm sharks or other marine life?
No. The SharkSafe Barrier is an entirely non-lethal device. It does not entrap, harm, or kill sharks or any other marine organism.
2. What is the effectiveness of the SharkSafe Barrier in minimizing the population of sharks in and around beaches?
The SharkSafe Barrier has proven to be very effective in keeping sharks out of secure swimming areas.
3. Is the SharkSafe Barrier applicable in resorts, public beaches, and other marinas?
Yes. It is a modular and scalable system, which is appropriate in the luxury resorts, public beaches, marinas, and other high-use coastal locations. Every installation is site-adjusted, i.e., adjusted to the site conditions, including the type of seabed, the exposure to waves, the length of the coastline, and more.
4. Is the SharkSafe Barrier powered or does it need a continuous power supply?
No. The SharkSafe Barrier is not powered by electricity. This magnetic deterrent is passive and therefore the system is dependable, low maintenance, and can be deployed in the sea in the long run without incurring operating expenses.
5. Who installs and maintains the SharkSafe Barrier?
Sea Me Dive performs the installation, anchoring, and inspection of the SharkSafe Barrier, as well as the maintenance of the barrier. Having experience in commercial diving and underwater infrastructure, Sea Me Dive keeps the system properly placed, durable, and performing in the long term.