New Wetsuit Designs for Shark Bite Protection
Researchers have developed new wetsuit designs that offer a layer of protection against shark bites by incorporating Kevlar or polyethylene nanofibers into standard neoprene.
These bite-resistant wetsuits can reduce damage from shark attacks, particularly from white and tiger sharks, by blocking large lacerations and punctures that can lead to fatal blood loss.
“That leads to more concern from the general public about these shark bites and what could be done to reduce the risks,”
says Charlie Huveneers, a marine biologist at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Despite the low number of shark bites, with only 71 reported globally in 2024, resulting in seven fatalities, the overall number of shark bites has increased over the last four decades.
Author's summary: The new wetsuits provide protection against shark bites.