Shark Chaser: U.S. Navy created shark repellent that actually attracts sharks
“…sometimes that shark he go away... but sometimes he wouldn't go away.”
Quint’s tale of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in JAWS (1975) was not only a showstopper for actor / writer Robert Shaw but also a retelling of a true story that many didn’t know about. The USS Indianapolis tragedy occurred in 1945 when the ship was torpedoed, leading to the loss of nearly 900 lives. After delivering crucial components for the atomic bomb, the ship sank, and survivors faced prolonged exposure, resulting in one of the worst naval disasters in history.
19 years before JAWS, the 1956 film "The Sharkfighters," featuring Victor Mature, portrays the Navy's attempt to create a shark repellent. In reality, the Navy invested $340,000 in producing chemical repellent packets for survival kits, but these were later discovered to attract sharks instead of repelling them.
From 1969 to 1974, the Navy spent $340,000 on "Shark Chaser" repellent for survival kits. Unfortunately, it not only failed to protect against shark attacks but also emitted an odor that could attract hungry sharks. An interesting side note is that Julia Child, the renowned chef, was part of the team that developed this repellent during her time with the OSS.
Shark repellent research traces back to World War II, aiming to reduce risks for stranded aviators and sailors. Ongoing studies involve notable researchers like Eugenie Clark, Samuel H. Gruber, and Kazuo Tachibana. Julia Child, in her OSS role, contributed to developing shark repellent.
Initial research focused on using the odor of dead sharks, leading to efforts to identify repellent components. Eventually, copper compounds, such as copper acetate, combined with other ingredients, were found effective. Stewart Springer and others patented "Shark Chaser," a repellent with copper acetate and a dark dye to obscure users. The Navy widely used it between 1943 and 1973, initially in cake form attached to life vests. Although believed to be about 70% effective, Shark Chaser did not work in all situations.
Contrastingly, Albert Tester questioned the effectiveness of dead shark bodies or their chemical derivatives as repellents. In 1959, he tested extracts of decaying shark flesh on various sharks, finding that they not only failed to repel sharks but attracted them. Similar results were observed with a 1959 test using a repellent containing decayed shark flesh. Research has persisted into the 2000s, exploring the use of extracts from dead sharks or synthesized chemicals.
In 2018, evaluations were conducted on five Shark Repellent technologies involving Great white sharks. Among them, only Shark Shield’s Ocean Guardian Freedom+ Surf demonstrated tangible outcomes, leading to a reduction in encounters from 96% to 40%. In contrast, Rpela (electrical repellent technology), SharkBanz bracelet & SharkBanz surf leash (magnetic shark repellent technology), and Chillax Wax (utilizing essential oils) exhibited no discernible impact in diminishing shark attacks.
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