Australian Researchers Discover Game-Changing Solution to White Shark Attacks for Surfers

[Article déjà publié le 12 novembre
2024]

This discovery could revolutionize the practice of water sports! Scientists from Macquarie University, Australia, published a study this Monday in the journal Current Biology. According to their research carried out in Mossel Bay in South Africa, LED lights placed under surfboards modify the perception of white sharks, preventing them from attacking surfers.

Lights to protect against white sharks

Sharks sometimes confuse humans with their usual prey, such as seals. To prevent this from continuing to happen, researchers have developed a system of LEDs fixed under seal lures, in order to test the reaction of these large fish.

Biologist Laura Ryan led the procedure, along with Professor Nathan Hart. His first idea was to play with lighting effects, in order to fool the shark's eye: “If you turn that into a light object on a dark background, it doesn't seem like something they recognize as prey.”

And the experiment worked! It took several attempts, and different types of LEDs, but the results were conclusive. The team first arranged lights to completely cover the board, but this process required too much energy and lacked convenience.

She then opted for horizontal strips of light, which work better than vertical strips, because “When you make horizontal stripes, the silhouette [apparaît] wider than long, so it looks less like a seal” according to Laura Ryan.

Sharks, enemies of Man?

Dr. Laura Ryan is not her first study of sharks. The scientist has already taken an interest in the white shark, looking into why it can attack humans. According to her, this phenomenon is the result of her poor eyesight. The animal has much more reduced vision than humans, which makes it difficult to perceive colors and shapes, hence its error of judgment regarding its prey.

The popular perception of the sea monster is harsh, particularly because certain works like Jaws cultivated this belief. “The fear of white sharks has been around for a long time and part of the reason is that we don't understand them very well.” concedes the biologist.

Between 1791 and today, 1,200 shark attacks have been recorded in Australia, including 255 fatal bites, according to a database compiled by the Taronga Conservation Society. Of these incidents, 94 were due to white shark attacks.

A prototype design envisaged

Confident about the progress and success of the research, the team of scientists has also planned to develop prototypes, which could be suitable for surfboards or kayaks. Laura Ryan will be very attentive to the practicality of the board: “As a surfer, I want it to be usable”.

This method represents a less invasive approach to treating shark attacks. For now, Australia has implemented several monitoring systems, which are more harmful to sharks. The latter are subject to the use of anti-shark nets, drones and marking devices, which alert the authorities in the event of a presence near the shores.

Although the study is promising, it must continue so that researchers can determine whether the operation of LEDs applies to other species. Indeed, the reaction of a tiger shark or a bull shark may be different, since they do not have the same predation mechanisms as the white shark.