Research

Sharkcamo Tested at Ningaloo Reef Western Australia

The highly contrasting and conspicuous pattern (Shark-Camo) was tested on
reef shark species (Carcharhinus spp.) and on the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna
mokarran) in the tropical waters of the Ningaloo reef on the central coast of Western
Australia in February 2006. The field programme primarily involved presenting
sharks with various patterns that had been applied to large polyvinyl chum bags filled
with fish pieces. The patterns tested were plain white, black Shark-Camo and a
random black pattern.
The higher number of interactions with the plain bag suggests a
deterrant effect of the Shark-Camo decal
The hammerhead shark interacted with plain bags a significantly higher
number of times.

The Shark-Camo product is a decal consisting of a highly conspicuous pattern,
which is applied to the underside of surfcraft, i.e. surfboards, body-boards and kayaks,
by either direct adhesion or placement of the decal under a layer of clear resin. The
purpose of the decal is to discourage an approaching shark from interacting with the
craft and the person operating the craft by presenting a visual signal to the shark that
both are non-prey items, thereby inhibiting the prey reflex (McConal, G. pers.
comm.). McConal has based the design of this decal on a recurring pattern in nature
which may prevent certain fish species such as cleaner wrasse, pilot fish, lion fish and
remoras, from being preyed upon by sharks . The initial idea of
the design was derived from a New Zealand study in which chum bags attached to
black and white striped poles were ignored by reef sharks while bags attached to other
coloured poles were attacked. The Shark-Camo product has been available for
purchase in the United States since 1998 and testimonial evidence suggests that it is
extremely successful at preventing shark attacks.

In order to test the effectiveness of Shark-Camo at deterring shark interactions
chum bags were filled with fish pieces and floated 5 to 10 m behind the boat at
anchor. When a shark was spotted approaching the study area, the interaction was
filmed from above and below the water. Three bags were floated simultaneously, i.e.
one with the decal applied to both sides of the bag, one plain bag and one that served
as a control which had a random pattern of black tape applied to both sides of the bag.
White polyvinyl chum bags measuring 50 cm × 70 cm were used with each having
perforated holes on both sides to allow the scent from inside the bag to be released
into the water column. Rock lobster bait wallets were secured inside each bag
and weighted with dive leads and filled with approximately 3 kg of fresh fish pieces
. These three bags were independantly attached 1 m beneath a single float on 5
to 10 m of rope behind the boat while at anchor. One bag was randomly
attached to two booms spread 3 m on the port and starboard sides at the stern and one
bag from the middle of the transom to allow the bags to be spaced evenly apart behind
the boat. Sharks were attracted to the area using a chum trail, whole dead fish
roped to the side of the boat and the movements of fish such as mackerel and tuna
being brought alive to the boat on rod and reel. A 6.5 m aluminium centre console
boat was the primary boat used in this investigation . A Panasonic GS400
mini-DV camera inside a Sealux underwater housing was the main system used for
underwater footage and a Canon S60 camera, which could be placed quickly in an
underwater housing, was used for most surface footage
This study has provided preliminary experimental evidence of the ability of
the Shark-Camo decal to reduce the number of interactions by sharks with an object in
marine waters in which a large predatory shark species actively feeds. A baited chum
bag without the Shark-Camo decal applied was approached directly a significantly
higher number of times than one with the Shark-Camo shark deterrant decal applied.
There were also a higher number contacts/attacks on the bag without the decal.

It was possible that the presence of the Shark-
Camo decal during these approaches may have inhibited contact with any bag,
A Chi-squared contingency test on the numbers of approaches to the bags
demonstrated that there were a significantly higher number of approaches to the plain
than Shark-Camo bags

Invented by a surfer

Shark Attack Protection For Core Surfers

Prevent "Mistaken Identity" Shark Attacks

Mother Nature approved "decal defense"

Sharkcamo Tested at Seal Island , South Africa

In July of 2005, a team of white shark experts from around the world, convened at Cape town, South Africa, to test the effectiveness of Sharkcamo. Sharkcamo is a highly contrasting and conspicuous pattern that is purported to deter sharks from interacting with surf craft and other vessels used by ocean enthusiasts.

Research members included Ralph Collier of the Shark Research Committee, Chris and Monique Fallows of Apex Adventures, Rick Martin of Reef Quest and Mike Travers of the Center of Fish and Fisheries, of Murdoch University of Western Australia.

Sharkcamo is a commercial grade vinyl decal that easily applies to the bottom of surf and leisure craft. There is also a Lycra suit that can be worn by ocean swimmers and surfers. The purpose of the decal or suit is to discourage an approaching shark from interacting with the craft or individual, by presenting a visual signal to the shark that they are not prey items, thereby inhibiting the prey reflex. This decal or graphic closely resembles the striped pattern of the zebra on a recurring pattern in nature, which prevents certain aquatic species such as, cleaner wrasse, pilot fish, lion fish, ribbon seal, and remoras from being preyed upon by sharks.

Potential prey species are often bright and distinctly colored signaling a warning to predators that they are toxic, venomous, or have some feature that will be detrimental to a predator. This coloration is known as aposematic, and is regularly mimicked by other non-lethal prey species in order to avoid being preyed upon . Aposematic prey often has coloration that contrast with the background and often has an element of conspicuousness. One beneficial effect of such conspicuous coloration is that it elicits a faster and more durable avoidance by predators. Another suggested benefit is that prey that contrast with the background are more quickly discerned, and recognized as unpalatable by experienced predators, thus allowing a predator more time to make a correct decision about attacking and reducing possible recognition errors.

The greatest percentage of recorded white shark attacks around the world may have involved the “hit and run” strategy. In this scenario the shark bites quickly, releases the person, and disappears. It has been proposed that this behavior is evidence of “mistaken identity,” as the shark may not clearly see that the person or craft, is a non-prey item due to breaking surf, turbid water or heavy currents. The visual system of white sharks has traditionally been assumed to be poor, however, they have recently been shown to have the physiological requirements to see color and can differentiate contrasting colors.

The research was conducted at Seal Island, South Africa, due to the nature of the behavior of white sharks in this area. A huge seal colony travels daily to and from the island to feed, and must cross over open waters inhabited by white sharks. At the advice of the researchers we tested at specific kill zones every day of the expedition. Seal decoys, soft surfboards and body boards were all used as targets to see the response these animals would exhibit toward the “finger print graphic.” During the testing, white bottom boards, random graphics, and various colors of Sharkcamo were used.

The protocol for testing included both static and dynamic testing. First, active kill zones were established. These were then deemed accurate testing zones . Static test involved presenting bodyboards, (plain white, random graphic, Sharkcamo graphic) at certain time intervals to see if a pattern of visual discrimination could be determined. Camera failure two hours into the testing limited video documentation, but observations by all present merited valid evidence. The only video evidence in the first two hours of testing confirmed the ability of the Sharkcamo graphic to repel the approach of a very aggressive white shark. Test results at the end of six days indicated that the white bottom boards received the most activity. The Sharkcamo decals received the least amount of activity on all test formats, both dynamic and static.

Ignoring the advise of participating experts we wanted to test at a famous location off Seal Island known as “the ring of death.” We were told nothing survives being attacked in this area, be it seal decoys or surf boards. On one trip through the forbidden zone, one shark approached a Sharkcamo clad board in a full-on polaris attack. Only at the last moment when a true visual reference (I meter of visibility) could be made by the shark, did the shark retract it’s jaw and shy away from the board. The significance of this behavior seemed to be with respect to the deterrent effect of Sharkcamo. One researcher was heard on the audio saying, “This must be shark kryptonite.”

Theory of Design

Sharkcamo was created based on the scientific fact that Mother Nature protects certain species of aquatic animals with distinct coloration patterns. The technical name for this phenomenon is aposematic pattern coloration. Examples of coloration imitation on land are the Monarch and Viceroy butterfly and, coral and king snake. Several species of fish share a distinct striped pattern and are not prey items for sharks. In the documentary "Smile of the Shark", shark experts proved Tiger sharks would not bite striped poles filled with chum. After viewing this film, the quest to find a graphic that could be applied to the bottom of surfboards began. The end result was the Zebra or fingerprint design. Sharkcamo found this graphic offers the best protection from different angles of attack. Sharkcamo has been used by thousands of surfers worldwide for the past 10 years with impeccable results. Sharkcamo's graphic imitates the pattern Mother Nature has decorated certain fish with. These fish are seen side by side with sharks in all water conditions and times of the day. Sharkcamo is a low tech approach to preventing shark attacks on surfers. Taken from the principles of Mother Nature, Sharkcamo is a patented, copyrighted graphic that applies to the bottom of your surfboard and neutralizes the prey reflex found in sharks that cause them to attack. After a series of field test at Seal Island, South Africa and at Ningaloo Reef, Australia, Sharkcamo proved to be extremely effective in both baited and non baited test. All shark experts and scientist involved had no financial interest in the results proving the authenticity of this effective visual shark attack protection.

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