Professor C. Huveneers - How SharkGuard Technology works

Active Shark Deterrent Technology

SharkGuard’s innovative magnetic technology is based on years of scientific research and rigorous testing. Our shark repellent wristbands use powerful, permanent magnets that create an effective deterrent, always active without the need for batteries or charging. When a shark nears the device, it senses a strong electromagnetic field—thousands of times stronger than any signal from the typical prey in its food chain. This overwhelming sensation causes the shark to veer away, much like how a sudden, bright light would make you turn your eyes away in a dark room. The effect is safe for the shark but highly effective at keeping them at a safe distance from you.

Sharks' Sixth Sense: Electroreception

Sharks possess the most powerful electroreception ability in the animal kingdom, enabling them to detect electrical fields in their environment. This unique "sixth sense" helps them navigate in the dark, murky waters and hunt for prey. Specialized electroreceptors, known as the Ampullae of Lorenzini, are located in pores on their snouts and heads, allowing sharks to sense even the smallest electrical changes in the surrounding geomagnetic field—such as those caused by a fish swimming or moving its gills. Sharks are highly attuned to these weak electromagnetic signals, which reveal the presence of potential prey.

When a shark encounters the SharkGuard wristband in the wild, the electromagnetic field it produces is exponentially stronger than anything a shark would naturally detect. This overwhelming signal is unpleasant to the shark, signaling that what it’s sensing is not food, effectively deterring the shark and encouraging it to move away.