April 26, 2023
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (26 April, 2023) – Conservation International’s CI Ventures (CIV) today announced a $250,000 investment in SharkSafe Barriers.
The funding will support both shark conservation and a global transition toward peaceful coexistence in areas where shark-human conflict has harmed communities, economies and ecosystems for decades.
While rare, shark accidents, and fear of them, have profound effects on local communities, marine recreation-based economies and marine biodiversity. For areas relying on ocean recreation as a main source of revenue – such as beach towns in South Africa, Brazil, New Caledonia and Reunion Island – shark attacks can have extreme, adverse effects on local economies.
In efforts to address public safety concerns and protect local tourism economies, hundreds of public and private beaches have resorted to managing shark-human conflicts with costly, often ineffective and ecologically damaging methods – shark nets and drumlines. These current control measures are a direct threat to conservation efforts and endangered species. Shark culls in the name of beach safety regularly target threatened species. Another issue is bycatch; New South Wales released catch records showing that 376 animals were reported entangled in the 51 nets during the period from 1 September 2021 to 30 April 2022, but only 14% of entanglements were with target species. 62% of individuals were found dead in the nets.
The SharkSafe BarrierTM is a nature-inspired, shark-specific technology with demonstrated effectiveness. Through the use of patented biomimicry and magnet-based technologies, it safely repels predatory sharks, protecting surfers, swimmers and other ocean users while avoiding harm to sharks or other marine wildlife. The SharkSafe BarrierTM is highly selective to large, predatory sharks; other animals, such as seals and dolphins, can freely pass through without risk of entanglement.
“Lethal control measures are outdated, exempt from endangered species protection regulations, and attacks still occur on ‘protected’ beaches,” said Gracie White, Lead of Global Ocean Investments for CIV. “It’s time to modernize – for both marine biodiversity and human well-being. The SharkSafe BarrierTM offers a proven, eco-friendly and effective solution.”
As the ecological and economic value of healthy shark populations are increasingly recognized, more shark conservation areas are being established around the world. The CIV investment will support pilot projects focused on testing the SharkSafe Barrier technology on different sea substrates and conditions, so that it can ultimately be installed everywhere it is needed.
SharkSafe Barriers were developed in 2012 by Stellenbosch University’s Dr. Sara Andreotti, a marine biologist specializing in white shark research, Michael Rutzen, a renowned shark conservationist, Prof. Conrad Matthee, a zoology and evolutionary ecology professor, Laurie Barwell, a coastal engineer, and Dr. Craig O’Connell.
“I am over the moon to know that our SharkSafe Barrier is receiving CIV investments, not just for the financial support, but also for the opportunity to tap into Conservation International’s global network of like-minded people and organizations, which will help tremendously to accelerate our chances to bring our technology to the world,” said Dr. Andreotti.
“Having worked and supported Sara over the last couple of years, I am thankful she found such an amazing partner in CIV to springboard her venture. She is a role-model of true purpose-driven entrepreneurship, and SharkSafe Barrier a perfect example of what positive ocean-impact innovation looks like” said Alexis Grosskopf, CEO of African-based ocean-impact incubator OceanHub Africa.
To date, tests of SharkSafe Barriers have proved successful in 100% of encounters with white and bull sharks. Research also shows that the technology does not affect any other marine life such as seals, turtles or bony fishes that inhabit many of the same areas.
“Ultimately, as long as people are afraid of sharks, there will be support for shark control measures. By supporting an eco-friendly alternative to shark nets and drumlines, CIV can play a direct role in global shark conservation,” said White.
The technology has the potential, in the future, to minimize whale entrapments in fishing gear and act as act as artificial reefs or coral nurseries.
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ABOUT CI VENTURES: CI Ventures is an impact investment fund that provides flexible financing to small- and medium-sized enterprises with a commitment to benefit ecosystems and human well-being. The portfolio expands across a wide range of industries that promote positive biodiversity and climate outcomes in sustainable and regenerative food production systems, data and analytics for science-based management, and the protection of ecosystems. CI Ventures aims to execute 100 “high-impact” deals and invest $200 million with its co-financing partners by 2028. Through those efforts, it intends to protect and restore 500,000 million hectares of land and sea while supporting 60,000 livelihoods around the world. Learn more about our work here.
ABOUT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS:
The SharkSafe BarrierTM tests were developed in three phases: (1) test magnets as shark deterrents (2) test the visual and magnetic barrier deterrents and (3) test the exclusion capability of the barrier. All the phases of this study demonstrated that the SSB successfully manipulates the swimming patterns of all interacting sharks, and the results were published in peer review scientific journals:
Tests on bull sharks: Bull sharks trials were conducted in both Bimini and Reunion Islands – areas known for high population numbers of bull sharks. In Bimini, 41 bull sharks were attracted to the bait, but no sharks swam through the magnetized region, whereas sharks made 1260 entrances through the control region.
- Bull sharks can be deterred by strong barium ferrite magnets
- Highly motivated bull sharks can be excluded from an area by the SharkSafe BarrierTM
Tests on white sharks: White shark trials were conducted in Gansbaai, South Africa over 10 consecutive months in 2015 and 2016 within the Dyer Island Marine Reserve. An exclusion area was established by the barrier and fitted with a baited remote underwater video system – stocked with 5 kg of fish chum. Multiple underwater cameras were set up to observe shark behavior, as well as a control site – only a visual barrier, no magnets. 81 individual white sharks were observed, none entered the exclusion zone.
- White sharks can be deterred by strong barium ferrite magnets and a visual barrier
- Highly motivated white sharks do not swim through the Sharksafe BarrierTM
- Highly motivated white sharks can be excluded from an area by the SharkSafe BarrierTM
As can be seen from this research, the SSB does not affect any other marine life such as seals, turtles or bony fishes that naturally utilize the kelp forest as effective refuge areas. The research entailed the attraction of sharks using chum to motivate them to penetrate the barrier. Results to date showed that none of the observed sharks (84 white sharks and 41 bull sharks) crossed the barrier.
MORE: Bycatch Data from the New South Wales Beach protection program