4 ms·

I wonder if lifeboats couldn't carry a little device that sounds (or smells) like a killer whale. Maybe sharks are never really that much of a problem.

• tyingq 7y ago
  This article mentions a wetsuit with a visual orca belly print having some promise: https://www.nature.com/news/south-african-scientists-trial-humane-shark-deterrents-1.18346 https://www.nature.com/news/south-african-scientists-trial-h...
• wnevets 7y ago
  >Maybe sharks are never really that much of a problem. Pretty sure that is the case. >According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), between 1958 and 2016 there were 2,785 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks around the world, of which 439 were fatal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_attack
• GVIrish 7y ago
  There has been a number of experiments that tried to isolate chemicals produced by the decaying shark flesh to repel sharks. The theory goes that sharks will avoid the smell of dead sharks, so a few groups I've tried to isolate those compounds to create a shark repellent. Not sure if any of them were fully successful. In the case of the Farallon Islands it might be that once Great Whites can smell that the orcas have eaten one of their own they know it's time to escape. I've seen at least one documentary where smaller sharks disperse when they hear the calls of orcas. Seems like it could at least be somewhat effective in areas where orcas regularly prey on sharks.
• pvaldes 7y ago
  The sound would guarantee atracting any killer whale in km around, so...
• jasonlaramburu 7y ago
  Could be useful for surfers as well!