In our study, we learned that using LED lights on the undersides of surfboards or kayaks can effectively disrupt the visual cues that great white sharks use to identify prey, potentially reducing the rates of attacks. Brighter lights resulted in better deterrence, suggesting a practical way to enhance safety for water sports enthusiasts.
Dr. Laura Ryan mentioned, 'If you flip that to a light object on a dark background, then it doesn't seem to be something they recognize as prey.' This insight reveals how changing the visual presentation can significantly impact shark behavior, potentially lowering human-shark encounters.
The research indicated that great white sharks rely heavily on visual cues, particularly contrasting silhouettes against the sunlit surface, which can lead to mistaken identity during interactions with humans. Ryan's findings that sharks have limited color perception emphasizes the importance of this visual factor.
While fully covering a surfboard in lights proved impractical, the discovery that horizontal stripes of LED lights had a similar effect suggests a real-world application of this research. This could lead to safer ocean activities while reducing risks of shark attacks.
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