SharkDefense has just won the runner-up for the 201 4 WWF International Smartgear Competition! Our entry involves Polyshark, a time release polymer for commercial longlines that selectively repels sharks and not swordfish. Polyshark is comprised of an edible polymer, a shark necromone, and a paper tube. Each Polyshark nugget is placed inside of a squid, which is used for bait. The Polyshark nugget lasts for up to 16 hours. In the 0-4 hour window, shark bycatch was reduced 71%, and in the 16 hour window, shark bycatch was reduced 35% as compared to control (untreated) squids.
This marks the second win for SharkDefense for the Smartgear competition, highlight our focus on shark bycatch reduction. SharkDefense will be improving on the Polyshark polymer in 2015 to extend repellency in the total 16 hour soak time, and to explore its performance in a tuna fishery.