Shark Shield hits big screen

Members of the film crew for “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” turned to a St. Petersburg-based company for protection from sharks during production.

The company, Shark Shield, provided its shark deterrent device, Freedom7, to the team for open water scenes in the Gulf of Mexico, a statement says. The World War II movie, starring Nicolas Cage, is based on the true story of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, who were stranded in the Philippine Sea for five days after the ship was sunk by a Japanese torpedo.

The Freedom7 product is “lightweight and worn on the ankle, making it easy to manage when filming,” says Shark Shield General Manger Amanda Wilson. It is depth-rated up to 164 feet and has a six-hour battery life, she says.

Sharks use short-range electrical receptors in their snouts for feeding. When a shark is within 20 feet of someone wearing a Shark Shield device, pulses are sent out to interfere with the shark's electroreceptor system, Wilson says. “This results in muscular spasms and levels of discomfort to the shark and causes them to quickly turn away from the electrical field.”

There are no known long-term negative effects, according to the statement. Because of that, the company says its products support shark conservation by removing the need for lethal means of managing human and shark interaction.

Along with the Freedom7, Shark Shield also makes a product for scuba divers and a surfboard attachment. Wilson and her business partner, Lindsay Lyon, purchased the company in 2013, when it was based in Australia.