In a bid to protect drivers and surfers from shark bites, Australian scientists have conducted successful experiments with materials that they believe could be developed into shark-bite resistance suits.
A new study published in the Wildlife Research revealed that scientists conducted experiments on four different bite-resistant wetsuit materials including:
Traditional suits made from chainmail provide protection from shark bites but they are too heavy and inflexible for surfing and diving.
Researchers claimed that the wetsuits that they are developing offer flexibility and protection as they are made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
White and Tiger sharks are responsible for most fatal attacks and unprovoked bites, so scientists examined each material's capability in resisting shark bites.
The study author Charlie Huveneers said, “Though we noticed small differences in each material’s capability, each of them reduced the amount of substantial and critical damage.”
Huveneers from Flinders University further said that the tested materials incorporated into wetsuits can offer much more protection against white and tiger shark bites compared with standard neoprene suits..
Shark Bites are not a common phenomenon but they pose serious risks to coastal communities and businesses.
According to Tracking Sharks, a website that monitors global incidents, as of September 2025, a total of 48 publicly reported shark bite incidents globally in 2025, including 9 fatalities and 8 provoked incidents.
The United States has recorded 15 attacks, with Florida having the most cases (10), while Australia has had 11 incidents, including 4 fatalities.
