Thomas Peschak's Image

A curious blacktip shark sidles up to a paddling surfer.

This popular dive site is the perfect place to test a prototype surfboard with an electromagnetic shark deterrent. ‘I wanted to illustrate a non-lethal approach to mitigating the shark-surfer conflict,’ explains Thomas, who used the complementary forms to suggest peaceful coexistence. Jelly-filled pores on a shark’s snout, called ampullae of Lorenzini, can sense electricity, able to detect even the minute muscle contractions of prey preparing to flee. This hi-tech board attempts to exploit this sensitive trait by creating an electrical field that repels the shark, causing it to flee to a safer distance.