New wetsuit material protective vs shark attack

Marine researchers at Flinders University have tested wetsuit material that can help reduce blood loss resulting from shark bites, reduce injuries and prevent the leading cause of death from shark bites.

Published in PLOS ONE, the study tested two protective fabrics — incorporating ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres — on the widely used neoprene material in wetsuits and compared their resistance to bites compared with standard neoprene without protective layers.

Flinders University Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers from the Southern Shark Ecology Group said new technological advances in fabric have allowed the development of lightweight alternatives that can be incorporated into traditional wetsuits.

“The aim of this study was to assess the ability of new fabrics incorporated into neoprene to reduce injuries from white shark bites,” said Associate Professor Huveneers.

“Our results showed that both fabrics tested may provide some protection against shark bite and could be used as part of a shark bite mitigation strategy.

“We tested the fabric on white sharks because it is the species responsible for the most fatalities from shark bites.”

The tests included 10 variants of two different fabrics using two laboratory tests, puncture and laceration tests, as well as field-based trials involving white sharks ranging 3–4 m in length.

White shark bite force was also measured at the Neptune Islands Group Marine Park using load sensors placed between steel plates surrounded by foam.

“We found that the new fabrics were more resistant to puncture, laceration and bites from white sharks than standard neoprene,” said Associate Professor Huveneers.

“More force was required to puncture the new fabrics compared to control fabrics (laboratory-based tests), and cuts made to the new fabrics were smaller and shallower than those on standard neoprene from both types of test (laboratory and field tests).”

Associate Professor Huveneers said the results are positive but more testing is required in an incorporated wetsuit design and on the potential damage to human flesh underneath for more robust recommendations.

“Although these fabrics may reduce blood loss resulting from a shark bite, further research is needed to measure the magnitude of injury to human flesh.”

Image ©Flinders University