Sharksafe

Stellenbosch University scientists have developed an eco-friendly shark barrier which can be used as an alternative to a shark net.

The barrier is called Sharksafe.

Shark nets were introduced to reduce the number of shark attacks on swimmers but they have resulted in the death of other sea animals including dolphins and turtles.

Countries including Australia, Japan and the US are looking at alternatives to shark nets while in Cape Town new shark exclusion nets which can be removed daily have also been developed.

Professor Conrad Matthee, head of the Department of Botany and Zoology, said shark numbers had decreased by up to 90 percent over the past 20 years, “particularly the number of great white sharks”.

“Sharks are top predators and if they were to be taken out of the ecosystem, the latter will be disrupted.