How it works
... Sharks ... have a contrast enhancing mechanism in their visual system which enables them to see farther underwater than we can. The trade off however, is that a high contrast black and white pattern may appear to them as disconnected objects against a contrasting background ...more from Marine Biologist Walter Stark
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.. One beneficial effect of such conspicuous coloration is that it elicits a faster and more durable avoidance by predators. 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.
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.
Ignoring the advise of participating experts we wanted to test at a famous location off Seal Island known as “the ring of death.” . 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 (one 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.”
|
Why Should I Use It?
|
 |
Invented by a surfer Shark Attack Protection For Core Surfers |
|
|
|
Prevent "Mistaken Identity" Shark Attacks Mother Nature approved "decal defense" |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conspicuous Patterns Natural and Applied [photogallery/photo00001315/real.htm]
|
Highlights of testing at Ningaloo Reef WA
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
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.
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.
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,
Copyright © 2005
Last modified:
05/15/10
Patent Pending
Sharkcamo cannot guarantee in every situation it will prevent a shark attack.
Please use at your own risk