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Green Lights Could Save Birds and Turtles From Fishing Nets
Both animals were less likely to get ensnared by fishing nets that shined green light, a new study found.
Scientists are hoping green light could offer marine animal conservationists a glimmer of hope.
A new study found that green LED lights affixed to gillnets—a type of net that hangs like a curtain in the water—reduced the number of cormorants, a type of sea bird, unintentionally snared when diving into the water for fish by 85 percent.
The method was originally developed to save sea turtles. Green became the color of choice because turtles are able to see the wavelength, but fish aren't, meaning the light can be used to shoo turtles away without jeopardizing catch.
All sea turtle species are either threatened or endangered, and incidental catch by fishermen poses a threat to their existence. Previous studies by the same research group
