Our History
SharkDefense began as the humble Oak Ridge Shark Lab in northern New Jersey and was founded in September 2001 by Eric and Jean Stroud. Its early work sought to research the existence of trace chemical messengers in elasmobranchs and to develop a series of highly selective chemical shark repellents using state-of-the-art analytical and synthesis techniques. Many successes in this initial research effort have led to new discoveries in shark repellent technologies, particularly for bycatch reduction.
SharkDefense Technologies LLC is a scientific research and development company, an SAM vendor, and is in good standing in the state of New Jersey, USA.
Our Mission Statement
Our Animal Humanity
Great care is taken to ensure that our test specimens, both captive and wild, are not harmed during our research. This means that we follow IACUC procedures in the United States and that we hold Bahamian research permits and a collection permit for tests in the Bahamas.
Our team works closely with Florida Keys Community College, Seton Hall University, Dr. Samuel Gruber, and the Bimini Biological Field Station.
Our Team
Dr. Patrick H. Rice – Partner and Sr. Marine Biologist, Director of Marine Sciences, FKCC
Email: pat@sharkdefense.com
COMMITTEES:
Advisory Board Member, Wyland Foundation
(http://www.wylandfoundation.org/index.php)
Chair, Science/Technology Taskforce. Florida Keys Environmental Coalition (2010).
Administrative Representative, Florida Keys Community College Educational Foundation (2010)
CERTIFICATIONS:
Certificate in Aquacultural Science (1994)
Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand
Certificate in Aquacultural Extension (1995)
Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
SCUBA:
American Academy of Underwater Sciences – Scientific Diver,
NOAA NITROX,
Cavern Diver,
NAUI Master Diver,
NAUI advanced open water,
PADI open water.
FELLOWSHIPS:
National Science Foundation/Monbusho Research Experience Fellowships for Young Foreign Researchers (1999). Kagoshima University, Kagoshima-shi,
Japan (Japanese Mariculture).
Dr. Eric M. Stroud – Managing Partner and Sr. Chemist
Email: eric@sharkdefense.com
Eric Stroud is an entrepreneurial organist chemist, life sciences consultant, and a co-founder of SharkDefense. In his career, he has developed a variety of chemical, cosmetic, and medical device products for clients. His research interests include chemical alarm signals, repellents, Schreckstoffs, magnetoreception, and time-release delivery. He is a general class amateur radio operator (N2GHZ), and enjoys beekeeping.
AWARDS:
2013 – Seton Hall University Petersheim Award, most outstanding graduate student.
2011 – New Jersey Inventor’s Hall of Fame, Graduate Student Award.
2006. WWF Smartgear Competition. Grand Prize (SharkDefense, submitted under partner’s name Michael Herrmann). “DETERRING SHARKS WITH MAGNETS”.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS:
2013. Save our Seas Foundation. SMART Circle Hooks for Shark Bycatch Reduction.
2012. NOAA Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program (BREP)
2010. Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Development of a Putrefaction-Derived Repellent for the Sea Lamprey.
2010. National Science Foundation. Small Business Innovative Research Phase 1B Award (SBIR). “Multifunctional Hook Material for Commercial Fisheries”.
2010. National Science Foundation. Small Business Innovative Research Phase 1 Award (SBIR). “Multifunctional Hook Material for Commercial Fisheries”.
2010. Michigan State University, Center for Water Sciences Venture Grant. “Preliminary identification of a putrefaction-derived repellent for the invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)”.
2009. Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program, FY 2009. “Process for Converting Shark Discards into a Shark Bycatch Reduction Technology”.
2005. NOAA PIFSC/JIMAR, Hawaii. Chemical repellents as a means to reduce shark bycatch in commercial longlines.
2005. NOAA PIFSC/JIMAR, Hawaii. Equipment/capital grant for chemical repellent research.
[/tab][tab name=”Dr. James E. Hanson”]Dr. James E. Hanson – Visiting scholar
Email: jim@sharkdefense.com
Brian DeSanti II – Associate Marine Biologist
Email: brian@sharkdefense.com
Brian DeSanti holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from Florida Gulf Coast University. He has recently finished his Master’s degree in Biological Oceanography from Florida State University, where his studies were focused on deep-sea corals and benthic ecology. He is currently working as a Marine Research Assistant and Adjunct Professor at the Florida Keys Community College.
Associates
Dr. Samuel Gruber – University of Miami RSMAS, Founder, Bimini Biological Field Station, Founder, AES
Email: sgruber@rsmas.miami.edu
Alan Chiesa – Specimen collection
Research Partners
Florida Keys Community College
Bimini Biological Field Station
Bimini Sands Bahamas
Michigan State University: Wagner Research Group
Marathon Aquaranch and Symbiologics
Gallery
Click on any image below for a slideshow: