SharkGuard deters sharks and stingrays from baited hooks

Developed by conservation engineers Fishtek Marine, and tested by researchers at Exeter University, SharkGuard has shown that it can reduce bycatch (accidental catching) of blue sharks by 91 per cent and stingrays by 71 per cent.

The study, carried out on boats fishing for bluefin tuna, found that catch of the target species also appeared to decline. The team said further testing is needed to fully understand the effects of SharkGuard on target species.

"Many shark and ray populations are declining due to overfishing – particularly oceanic species such as blue sharks and pelagic stingrays that are commonly caught on longlines globally," said Dr Phil Doherty from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter' University’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. "There is an urgent need to reduce bycatch, which not only kills millions of sharks and rays each year but also costs fishers time and money.”

Dr Doherty continued: "Our study suggests SharkGuard is remarkably effective at keeping blue sharks and pelagic stingrays off fishing hooks."