By Simon Shepherd
Surfers may have to give up the traditional black wet suit if they want to reduce their chances of being bitten by a shark.
New research has shown that sharks are colour blind, so a bold black stands out and shouts ‘pick me’, while a delicate shade may not.
Every summer they are just off the beach and every summer there is another victim.
But how sharks spot their prey is a little clearer after researchers discovered all the ones they studied were colour blind.
Nathan hart - phoner
“Although they are sensitive to certain parts of the spectrum more than others, they don’t distinguish colours,” says Nathan Hart of Western Australia University. “So brightness, contrast, shades of grey is what they see.”
International figures show the majority of attacks happen to people in black wetsuits.
Manufacturer Seventh Wave says that's mostly surfers.
“There is lot of feeling that if you are in a black suit in the water and there is a little bit of sunshine the traditional black suit will absorb it; it will warm up quicker,” says Paul Zarifeh of Seventh Wave Wetsuits.
Research in the 60s suggested sharks were attracted to yellow.
“People used to believe that bright yellow westuits were called ‘yum yum yellow’ so avoid ‘yum yum yellow’ wetsuits,” says Andrew Christie, Kelly Tarlton’s curator.
Now perhaps a less contrasting blue or green suit may be safer.
“Some species of shark may be deterred by very bright patterns and others attracted by very bright patterns,” Mr Hart says. “So by knowing what sort of species of shark are found in the area you are going it might influence how you dress when you get into the water.”
This research could not only be good for the survival of humans but also the survival of sharks themselves, if it leads to the development of commercial fishing practices that are less attractive to the predators.
But the researchers studied only 17 of the world’s 350 shark species and are warning there is no guarantee that not wearing black means no attack.
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