Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) affect multiple cell types. After the initial injury, additional tissue loss occurs by a self-propagating cascade of cellular and biochemical mechanisms that exacerbate the SCI. Animal models capable of regeneration are likely our best resource for understanding and ultimately treating SCIs. The zebrafish central nervous system (CNS) shares many organizational, cellular and molecular pathways with humans, yet it is capable of functional regeneration even after complete spinal cord transection. Zebrafish models of SCI are unique, valuable tools for studying spinal cord regeneration, particularly because the optical transparency of larvae permits real time observation of the CNS and optogenetic manipulations. To better understand how the CNS responds to SCI, we are developing optogenetic approaches to selectively ablate cells in the zebrafish spinal cord and monitor regeneration in real time. Applications of our optogenetic technologies and characterization of the SCIs they cause in zebrafish larvae will be discussed.