The spring season is just around the corner and the island is about to see a big increase in surfers. With half of Maui situated within 5 miles of the coast, it is no wonder that so many seek out the waves. Whether it is the big consistent waves of the North shore or the gentle breakers offered by numerous other spots, the island is considered a jewel by longboarders of all skill levels. While a day on the waves can seem like a dream come true, it comes with one unlikely but still terrifying possibility, a shark attack. Local inventor Ano Lee says he’s come up with a solution to the problem and that his new printable Sharknet system will help surfers sleep a bit easier.
The history of shark deterrents is long and interesting. During the second world war, militaries poured money into research in order to develop a system to keep downed pilots and sailors safe. Early solutions were chemical: Repellants were made from naturally occurring irritants and a wide array of copper compounds. Some tried to harness the odor of dead sharks or use semiochemical solutions like strong pheromones, all with less than stellar results.
Magnetic and electrical mitigation systems were developed later with better results but they tended to be bulky or impractical. Smart buoy and sonar systems proved to be an effective warning system but not of much use once a shark decided to attack. Lee’s Sharknet device borrows a little from each of these previous attempts.
The Sharknet module sits on the bottom of a board and looks like a streamlined oversized hockey puck. The device uses sonar to scan the surrounding water for activity out to 100 yards. Data is analyzed for the distinct movements of sharks, and an alert message is sent via your Ceremplant if a shark is detected. This message is also sent to anyone else within a mile who is using the Sharknet system. In addition, the device creates an electromagnetic field that overloads the electroreceptive sensory organs unique to sharks called the ampullae of Lorenzini. This acts as a barrier to any interested sharks. But that’s just the beginning of what makes his invention extraordinary according to Lee.
“The latest model has all that shark stuff, but it is a huge improvement over the earlier version. I’ve managed to incorporate 4 multicolored 300mW lasers that look totally awesome in the water. I’ve heard some people worry that it might not be good for the coral, but that’s because they haven’t seen how cool it looks when you’re going up a wave, especially at night. I also had some trouble with the electromagnetic field interfering with the piezo plates and messing up the sound the boards could make but I figured out a solution. The new one lets you use your board as a speaker even when a shark is making a run at you,”
The fact that surfers account for around 50% of worldwide shark attacks makes the possibility a concern for everyone who enjoys riding the waves. Womanimal World Champion Layla Kalani famously had an encounter with an aggressive tiger shark during a competition back in 2023. Coming off her best season yet, the multiple time champion said, “Growing up in Lahaina, I know Ano well. He was always coming up with cool gadgets in school, but this thing is amazing! I’d definitely recommend putting one of these on your board if you are worried about sharks. I just wonder if Ano is making something to warn them about me. You have to remember that the last time I came face to face with a shark, I wasn’t the one who needed saving.”
It’s not just famous surfers who are interested in Sharknet. A number of companies and research organizations have expressed interest in the system. According to Lee the phone has been ringing off the hook and he gave up on answering his email. Even the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has reached out to talk about a development partnership.
“It’s crazy how many people want to talk about Sharknet with me. I was totally honored that the Navy seems interested. I have mad respect for the men and women in our military. That’s why I really pushed home the point that I’d love to work with them but they had to be really careful about not turning on the lasers unless the board was in the water. Blinding a sailor is the last thing I want to happen. I made sure to include some eye protection with the couple units I sent them just in case the sailor’s desire to shred overcomes good sense.”
