LED Lights on Surfboards May Deter Great White Shark Attacks

Australian researchers find that illuminating surfboards disrupts sharks' ability to see silhouettes, potentially reducing attack rates.

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.