Light up surfboards may deter sharks

Australian scientists think they may have devised a way
to deter great white sharks from attacking surfers and
other sea surface recreationists by using light

Iconic Jaws movie
poster illustrates how
great white sharks,
believed to be colour
blind and have poor
visual acuity, could
mistake human or
surfboard silhouettes
for those of seals

“COUNTERILLUMINATION” EXPERIMENT

Researchers
placed strips
of LED lights
perpendicular to
travel direction
of rubber seals

MISTAKEN IDENTITY
From shark’s point of
view, silhouette of seal
from below looks almost
identical to that of
human on surfboard

VISUAL TRICKERY
Lights confuse sharks
by breaking silhouette
into unrecognisable
shapes – could be
used on surfboards

50 YEARS OF GLOBAL SHARK ATTACKS*
1970-79
1980-89
1990-99
2000-09
2010-19
46
126
271
318
544

*Surface recreationists atop body of water by use of board or flotation device – surfing, water skiing, windsurfing, boogie boarding, rafting, or using inflatables at time of attack. Sources: BBC, Macquarie University, Florida Museum. Pictures: Macquarie University, © NBCUniversal

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