A study suggests that wrapping a surfboard in very bright lights — like aquatic Christmas trees — could make the surfer less interesting to great white sharks.

Surfers could be protected from future shark attacks following new discoveries about how to trick sharks' visual systems made by Professor Nathan Hart, head of Macquarie University's Neurobiology Lab,

The researchers say their work “may form the basis of new non-invasive shark deterrent technology to protect human life.”

New research reveals how LED lights on seal decoys can deter great white sharks by disrupting their hunting behaviour. The study, inspired by marine creatures that use bioluminescence, found that altering the predator's view of prey silhouettes from below could lead to non-invasive shark deterrent technology.

New research has found that using lights on the bottom side of a surfboard or kayak could put great white sharks off

They are responsible for the majority of all shark attacks, and researchers were hoping to figure out why, and use it against them. The results of that study were published in the journal Current Biology.

Reports of shark attacks on surfers appear in the media quite regularly. Researchers have decided to tackle the issue. Scientists from Macquarie University in New South Wales have developed a simple but effective way to deter predators.