Shark Shield is urging governments to implement an innovative technology solution to solve the serious shark problem in Australia. Statistically, shark attacks will continue to increase as our population rises along with our increased passion for the ocean. As a result, our country will continue to be branded as the shark attack capital of the world. Now is the time to change this. Shark Shield proposes world first innovation to re-brand Australia as having the safest beaches in the world.
Shark Shield CEO, Lindsay Lyon, addressed the Committee on Friday afternoon at the Senate Inquiry into Shark Mitigation and Deterrent Measures. Lyon questioned why Australian governments have not moved forward with Shark Shield to implement its new Ocean Guardian beach barrier solution, stating this is scientifically proven technology, it is not science fiction.
Lyon said, “We are amazed given the lives lost and community economic damage from shark attacks as to why there has been no interest in commissioning a pilot or test site for Ocean Guardian. It is based on scientifically proven deterrent technology that has been on the market for twenty years. The electromagnetic transducer has also been used in the medial industry with clinical studies showing it is safe for humans and animals.”
Tourism in Australia is a critical component of the Australian economy. In the financial year 2014/15, tourism represented 3.0% of Australia’s GDP contributing A$47.5 billion to the national economy. Domestic tourism is a significant part of the tourism industry, representing 73% of the total direct tourism GDP.
“If our brand as the global shark attack capital of the world affected only 1% of the tourism, the Australian economy is losing $475,000,000 of income annually as a result. This excludes how the world views our environmental track record on managing and / or destroying our oceans,” said Lyon.
With a positive environmental impact on marine life, Ocean Guardian will not only reduce the number of sharks killed annually in nets and drum lines, but also protect other marine life such as turtles, whales, seals and dolphins killed or injured using existing shark mitigation approaches.