Revolutionizing the concept of shark management

Stellenbosch University.

 The SharkSafe BarrierTM, developed by a team of international scientists and marine biologists from Stellenbosch University (SU), is a breakthrough in shark management and marine conservation. This technology combines biomimicry and magnetic fields to exclude sharks from recreational beaches and was recently commercially installed in the Bahamas. This installation builds on the Bahamas’ pioneering actions in marine conservation, including the declaration of the first shark sanctuary in the Atlantic in 2011 and the establishment of a Marine Action Partnership for Sustainable Fisheries in 2018. 

SharkSafe BarrierTM offers for the first time a non-lethal and shark-specific alternative to traditional shark nets, thereby protecting sharks and other marine species from entanglement and death, to protect the local marine biodiversity. The technology’s benefits also positively impact the coastal communities which are dependent on ocean recreation and tourism. By ensuring safer beaches, it prevents the economic impacts associated with traumatic shark encounters as experienced in Australia, South Africa, Brazil, New Caledonia, and Réunion. Additionally, the barrier provides a solution aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Global 14, Life Below water, fostering a non-extractive utilization of the marine resources through the coastal tourism, while conserving local biodiversity.