What is it about?
An old fisherman's tale held that a shark carcass towed behind a fishing boat would repel sharks and reduce the inadvertent catch of sharks. We made a preparation from rotten shark carcasses and tested it on sharks brought to feed on chum. We found that this preparation did indeed repel sharks and keep them away.
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Why is it important?
This shows that a chemical shark repellent can be made based on rotting shark tissue.
Perspectives
This work is a demonstration of how marine species can be chemically aware of their dead, and how we can harness that awareness to protect both humans (swimmers and surfers) and animals (sharks protected from inadvertent fishing or bycatch).
Dr. James E Hanson
Seton Hall University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Chemical shark repellent: Myth or fact? The effect of a shark necromone on shark feeding behavior, Ocean & Coastal Management, August 2014, Elsevier, DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.01.006.
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