Researchers at a university in Australia have found that adding bright lights to surfboards may help prevent shark attacks, as vertical stripes of light can confuse sharks and make them less likely to mistake surfboards for potential prey.
Dr. Laura Ryan from Macquarie University in Sydney conducted the study, spending nearly 500 hours towing illuminated seal-shaped foam decoys around a bay in South Africa, a popular area for Great Whites.
The study’s findings suggest that illuminating the bottom of a surfboard or seal decoy can help break up its silhouette, making it less likely to be mistaken for a seal by a shark 01:24.
Marine scientist and shark expert Riley Elliot, also known as SharkMan, commends the study, stating that sharks are cautious and calculated predators that will avoid something that doesn’t resemble their natural prey.
Elliot notes that while the study’s findings are promising, they are not foolproof, and more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of using lights to deter shark attacks.
Elliot, a surfer and shark researcher, has spent years studying shark behaviour and working to conserve shark populations and believes that reducing human-shark conflict is crucial for both human safety and shark conservation.
Elliot emphasizes the importance of perspective, noting that shark attacks are rare and that drowning is a much greater risk for surfers and swimmers.
The study’s findings have the potential to reduce the risk of shark attacks and promote coexistence between humans and sharks in the ocean.