Permanent magnets repel sharks from fishing hooks and swimmers.

the verdict

CONTESTED PARTIAL

Recorded sources

1 source for · 1 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that permanent magnets repel sharks from fishing hooks and swimmers?

Partly. One reference describes permanent magnets as shark repellents exploiting sharks' electrosense and used in fisheries bycatch devices, while a National Geographic article reports the field reaches only about eight inches, making hook and swimmer use impractical, with mixed and sometimes opposite effects across shark species. Together the sources support only a partial and contested picture of the claim.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 1 source for, 1 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Evidence for · 1

Magnetic shark repellent - Wikipedia

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Magnetic shark repellent - Wikipedia. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_shark_repellent

Evidence against · 1

How to Repel Sharks Using Magnets | National Geographic

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How to Repel Sharks Using Magnets | National Geographic. (n.d.). nationalgeographic.com. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/sharks-repel-magnets-fishing-animals

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