Summary
This study tested the behavioral responses of little penguins (Eudyptula minor) to green LED lights in a non-fishing setting as a precursor to operational fishing trials. A grid fitted with commercially available green FishTek Marine NetLights was deployed across a known transit corridor, with trials alternating between illuminated and non-illuminated conditions.
Penguins swam through the grid on five occasions when no green LED lights were illuminated, while no penguins passed through the grid when the LEDs were illuminated. Two observations involved penguins altering swimming behavior when the grid was illuminated, and there was no evidence of attraction to the green LED lights.