Skip to main content

Research suggests that LED-studded fishing nets can reduce sea turtle bycatch by 64 percent

LED fishing nets save turtles
ProDelphinus
Fishing nets are a fairly simple piece of equipment, and their design has largely remained unchanged for hundreds of years — but scientists have recently devised a clever new upgrade that could make nets more effective, and also safer for sea life. By placing LEDs on fishing nets at 33 foot intervals across the length, researchers were able to warn sea turtles of a net’s presence, without scaring off fish. These LED-augmented nets are affordable to produce, and were able to protect 64 percent more turtles from untimely deaths, according to a recent study.

Darwin Initiative fellow Dr. Jeffrey Mangel is the brains behind this profoundly simple solution. He tested the LED fishing nets in Peru’s Sechura Bay, since various sea turtle species use those waters as feeding grounds. Local marine conservation organization ProDelphinus supported the tests in their effort to protect Peru’s marine ecosystem, as thousands of turtles are killed unintentionally every year when they’re caught in nets intended for fish. Mangel and the team tested 218 total nets, with one unlit control net and one net illuminated by the series of LEDs in each pair. Only 62 turtles were caught in the LED nets during the testing phase, compared to 125 in the control nets.

Recommended Videos

Since there is no fundamental change to the nets themselves, the only added cost of this turtle-saving idea is the price of the LEDs themselves. During the testing phase, covering a 1,640 foot net with 50 LED lights only cost about $100. Even on that small testing scale, the cost of saving one turtle worked out to be about $34. With innovations in LED technology that make the bulbs more affordable, it is expected that the cost of LED fishing nets could be reduced even further.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Mangel and his team are working with larger fisheries in attempt to roll out the solution on a larger scale, saving more turtles and also lowering the overall cost of the project. The team is also experimenting with different LED colors to see if endangered species other than turtles might respond in a similar way — thereby saving even more types of sea life from an untimely end. Marine scientists hope that increasing the efficiency of net fishing without unwanted bycatch will provide a boost to the sustainability of the fishing industry, and support the success of both fishing communities and ocean ecosystems.

Chloe Olewitz
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chloe is a writer from New York with a passion for technology, travel, and playing devil's advocate. You can find out more…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 sets world record for greatest altitude change
hyundai ioniq 5 world record altitude change mk02 detail kv

When the Guinness World Records (GWR) book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that could finally settle often endless arguments in the U.K.’s many pubs.

It quickly evolved into a yearly compilation of world records, big and small, including last year's largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world.

Read more
Global EV sales expected to rise 30% in 2025, S&P Global says
ev sales up 30 percent 2025 byd sealion 7 1stbanner l

While trade wars, tariffs, and wavering subsidies are very much in the cards for the auto industry in 2025, global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are still expected to rise substantially next year, according to S&P Global Mobility.

"2025 is shaping up to be ultra-challenging for the auto industry, as key regional demand factors limit demand potential and the new U.S. administration adds fresh uncertainty from day one," says Colin Couchman, executive director of global light vehicle forecasting for S&P Global Mobility.

Read more
Faraday Future could unveil lowest-priced EV yet at CES 2025
Faraday Future FF 91

Given existing tariffs and what’s in store from the Trump administration, you’d be forgiven for thinking the global race toward lower electric vehicle (EV) prices will not reach U.S. shores in 2025.

After all, Chinese manufacturers, who sell the least expensive EVs globally, have shelved plans to enter the U.S. market after 100% tariffs were imposed on China-made EVs in September.

Read more