Researchers at California State University, Long Beach are testing a semi-autonomous robotic craft designed to monitor great white sharks near popular beaches and provide real-time information to lifeguards and scientists.
The prototype, measuring about 10 feet long and three feet wide, resembles a kayak or surfboard and can patrol coastal waters for up to a week. Equipped with acoustic receivers, the unmanned craft can detect signals from great white sharks fitted with tracking tags. Cameras are also installed, while researchers plan to add a drone capable of transmitting live 360-degree images to shore.
Chris Lowe, a marine biology professor and director of the university’s Shark Lab, said the craft could be programmed to patrol the ocean in a back-and-forth pattern. Lifeguards or researchers would also be able to control it remotely.
Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute are working to add environmental DNA, or eDNA, technology to the system. The equipment would detect traces of shark DNA left in the water, providing additional information about their presence.
Researchers stress that shark attacks remain extremely rare despite great whites frequently swimming near people. California has recorded 236 shark attacks since 1950, including 17 fatalities, according to state wildlife authorities.
Lowe said the goal of the project is not to cause alarm or remove swimmers from the water whenever a shark is detected, but to provide information that can help people make informed decisions about ocean safety.
The team hopes to complete the surveillance system within two years, potentially allowing it to be deployed during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, when triathlon events are scheduled to involve open-water swimming.
Researchers say the technology could eventually be expanded along California’s coastline, giving scientists a better understanding of shark movements while improving public awareness and safety. – TS/ ERMD
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