LED Lighting Enhances Shark Safety for Surfers

Australian researchers from Macquarie University have made a groundbreaking discovery that could enhance ocean safety for surfers by using LED lights to deter great white sharks. Led by Dr. Laura Ryan, the six-year study involved towing illuminated decoys resembling seals in waters off South Africa and assessing sharks’ responses to various lighting configurations. The findings, published in Current Biology, revealed that bright horizontal lights significantly reduced shark interest compared to dim or unlit decoys. The team found that horizontal stripes disrupted the typical seal silhouette, effectively tricking the sharks’ keen visual perception. This innovative approach may lead to outfitting surfboards with similar lighting technologies, offering surfers a newfound sense of security without resorting to lethal deterrents like nets. The researchers also plan to explore how these strategies could impact other shark species.