Scientists test bite-resistant wetsuits to reduce shark bite damage

Researchers in Australia tested bite-resistant wetsuit materials to determine whether they can reduce injury from shark bites. Flinders University scientists evaluated four wetsuit materials—Aqua Armour, Shark Stop, ActionTX-S and Brewster—by mounting them on a testing board and having white and tiger sharks bite the material as the board was dragged behind a boat. White and tiger sharks are among the species most often involved in unprovoked attacks, and the study sought to determine whether the protective fabrics could slow bleeding and tissue damage long enough for a person to reach lifeguards and medical care.

The researchers reported that while none of the materials prevented bites outright, all four reduced the severity of damage compared with standard neoprene wetsuits. “It’s not the entire suit, right, they’ve only used that special material in special parts of the suit, and it’s designed to protect you in the places that are most dangerous for blood loss and protect the major arteries,” said Nick Whitney, a senior scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life in Boston. Whitney was not involved in the study. He noted that most shark-related fatalities result from blood loss rather than the animal consuming a person, and he said the goal of the suits is to buy time for medical help after a bite.

The team’s tests also highlighted that chainmail-style wetsuits, which were developed decades ago, offered limited mobility for activities like surfing and diving. The researchers argued that newer wetsuits incorporating strong, lightweight fibers—often used in sailing rope and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene—provide both protection and flexibility, making them more practical for recreational use. Dr. Thomas Clarke of Flinders University, a study co-author, said that “while there were small differences between the four tested materials, they all reduced the amount of substantial and critical damage, which would typically be associated with severe haemorrhaging and tissue or limb loss.”

Flinders University Professor Charlie Huveneers, who leads the Southern Shark Ecology Group and co-authored the study, emphasized that the suits do not eliminate risk but could reduce blood loss and trauma from major lacerations and punctures. He added that the protective materials are not a substitute for clinical care but a potential addition to the toolbox of measures aimed at reducing shark-bite injuries. The study concluded that all four materials offer an improved level of protection that could lessen severe wounds and blood loss, and should be considered as part of a broader strategy to mitigate bite risk. The findings appeared in Wildlife Research on Thursday.

There were fewer than 50 unprovoked shark attacks globally last year, with most U.S. incidents occurring in Florida, according to the same reporting cycle, underscoring the ongoing interest in practical safety advances for beachgoers. In the near term, researchers say the bite-resistant fabrics could be integrated into active-use wetsuits for surfers, divers and lifeguards, while further testing could refine where the protective panels are most effective and how much mobility is preserved.