Eco-Friendly Infrastructure for a Regenerative Coastline
In the Bahamas, that trade-off is not only ecological. It is economic. With shark tourism underpinning a $100M sector, traditional shark nets that kill sharks and entangle non-target species turn “safety infrastructure” into a liability. The question SharkSafe set out to answer was direct: can you protect people without destroying the ocean you depend on?
Led by Dr. Sara Andreotti, SharkSafe’s marine biologist team developed a non-lethal solution that works with the ocean rather than against it: a visual “kelp forest” deterrent combined with a magnetic field, designed to deter sharks without harm. After 17 years of research, the remaining hurdle was the one that stops many breakthrough innovations—the jump from proven science to a product the world can install, trust, and pay for at scale.
OceanHub Africa’s role was to help close that innovation gap and shift SharkSafe from research project to deployable regenerative infrastructure. We focused on the commercial and operational foundations that make adoption possible:
- Visibility and credibility: Positioned SharkSafe on Blue Economy stages through targeted PR and international innovation challenges.
- Capital and equity: Supported investment readiness to secure capital for the first international installation and equity funding for operations.
- Engineering optimization: Helped reduce production costs and refine the sand-anchoring system so the barrier could perform in real shoreline conditions.
- Commercial reframing: Repositioned the solution from a scientific tool to critical regenerative infrastructure.
Results
- Zero Mortality: Demonstrated a non-lethal safety alternative, avoiding the marine deaths associated with traditional netting and saving non-target species.
- Reef Protection: 1.75 hectares protected, directly contributing to the restoration of nearly two hectares of coral reef.
- Climate Adaptation: 1,168,800 people supported to adapt to climate change through resilient coastal management.
- Economic Resilience: Protecting the living “natural assets” behind a $100M shark tourism economy by keeping sharks alive and the industry sustainable.
- Deployment Milestone: A 30-meter barrier successfully commissioned in the Berry Islands, Bahamas, marking a milestone for African-led ocean-tech export.
- Revenue: $219,000 in total turnover generated since 2020.
This story is ultimately about a different kind of safety, one that does not outsource harm to the ocean. SharkSafe proves that coastlines can be protected in a way that is regenerative by design, strengthening ecosystems and economies at the same time.
