LED Lights on Surfboards May Deter Great White Shark Attacks

Overview

• A study by Macquarie University in Australia tested LED lights on seal-shaped decoys in Mossel Bay, South Africa, finding that brighter horizontal lights deterred great white shark attacks.
• The LED lights disrupted the silhouette of the decoys, making them less recognizable as prey to sharks, which typically mistake surfers for seals.
• The research indicates that great white sharks rely heavily on visual cues and have poor visual acuity, making them susceptible to silhouette disruption.
• Researchers are developing prototypes of illuminated surfboards and kayaks to explore practical applications of the technology for human safety.
• Further studies are needed to determine if the lighting method is effective against other shark species like bull and tiger sharks, which have different predatory behaviors.