A year ago NewsChannel 15 told you about a Coastal Carolina University scientist and his research to create shark repellents.
He now has proof those repellents work.
While our cameras were there, Craig O'Connell cast a line from Springmaid Pier. A spiney dogfish shark took the bait, and Craig noticed it was wrapped in fishing line.
"That's a perfect example of maybe a fisherman getting frustrated with these sharks, just didn't want to deal with it, and threw it back into the water. That shark is going to die," said Craig.
It's a perfect example of what Craig is working against.
The shark population is dwindling as nearly 100-million are killed every year by bait hooks and fishing nets.
Craig is creating something to put on fishing lines, so sharks avoid them.
Just as he knows what attracts sharks, he also knows what repels them, and after years of studies and experiments in the Bahamas, the shark scientist says their repellents work. Sharks sense them as potential danger.
"It's very exciting. This has always been a passion of mine, to help save sharks, ever since I was a kid," said Craig.
He has three types of shark repellents: a magnet, electropositive metals, and a chemical extracted from dead sharks.
He tried them for us on the dogfish shark. The metal provoked a small reaction and the chemical, a bigger reaction.
"We are making a lot of progress, and we are repelling sharks, so that is definitely beneficial," said Craig.
He said it will also benefit sharks as well as fishermen, who snag sharks by mistake.
Craig expects his repellents will be ready to use in two years.
