Thursday, December 12, 2024

LED Lighting on Surfboard Undersides Could Help Deter Great White Shark Encounters

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In an innovative study led by Australian scientists, researchers utilized seal-shaped decoys equipped with different LED lighting arrangements to manipulate great white sharks’ hunting behavior. The study revealed that lighting on the decoy’s underside effectively obscured its silhouette from the sharks, thereby reducing follow and attack rates. While previous methods involved extensive lighting, impractical for real-world applications like surfboards, the research found that longitudinal strips and strobe lights failed to deter sharks, as the latter provided fleeting glimpses of the decoy. This work offers insights into potential strategies for enhancing safety in shark-infested waters.

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