LED Surfboard Lights May Deter Shark Attacks

Researchers from Macquarie University have developed a novel method to reduce shark attacks by using LED lights to disrupt the visual perception of great white sharks. The technique, inspired by the natural counterillumination of marine life, involves placing bright lights on the underside of surfboards and seal-shaped decoys to break up their silhouettes. This approach takes advantage of sharks' reliance on silhouette recognition due to their poor color vision and visual acuity, which often leads them to mistake humans for seals. Field trials conducted in Mossel Bay, South Africa, demonstrated that illuminated decoys were less frequently attacked than non-illuminated ones, with horizontal lighting patterns proving most effective. The promising results suggest this non-invasive technology could significantly enhance safety for swimmers and surfers. The research has been published in the journal Current Biology.