### LED Strip Lights on Surfboards Could Prevent Shark Attacks, Say Australian Scientists

Australian researchers have discovered that affixing LED strip lights to the underside of surfboards may help deter great white shark attacks. Conducted by scientists from Macquarie University in New South Wales, the study involved using seal-shaped boards equipped with various LED light configurations. These boards were towed behind a boat in Mossel Bay, South Africa, to observe which setups attracted the sharks’ attention.

The researchers found that the lights altered the silhouettes of their "decoy" boards on the ocean's surface, making it harder for great white sharks to distinguish them against the sunlight. According to lead researcher Laura Ryan, the lights could offer a non-invasive alternative to traditional shark deterrents like nets or drones.

Great white sharks are responsible for the majority of fatal human shark bites and often attack by mistaking surfers for seals. The study, published in the journal "Current Biology," also highlights the need to test whether LED lighting can deter other shark species known to attack humans, such as bull sharks and tiger sharks.

The study tested three different intensities of LED lights and found that the brightest, horizontally-aligned lights were least likely to attract the sharks. "Our results reveal the importance of a dark silhouette against a lighter background in predatory behavior in great white sharks," the researchers noted. "Altering the silhouette may form the basis of new non-invasive shark deterrent technology to protect human life."

Interestingly, while other studies have shown that some shark species are drawn to bright, reflective objects, the great whites in this study were less attracted to the most conspicuous lights. Researchers are now working on developing prototype lighting strips to test on actual surfboards and kayaks.

According to 2023 statistics, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites globally, with the highest numbers reported in the US, Australia, and South Africa. Of those, 10 incidents were fatal, emphasizing the importance of developing effective shark deterrent technologies.