Shark Nets vs Shark Barriers: What’s the Difference?
- Ali Be
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
When it comes to the debate surrounding shark mitigation methods, two fundamentally different tools are often confused by the mainstream media: shark nets and swimming enclosures (barriers).
This confusion happens time and again, images of swimming enclosures are falsely presented in stories about shark nets. The mix-up stems from how archives, stock image libraries, and even local councils sometimes mislabel the two.
At first glance this might seem like a minor detail, trivial even, but the reality is that confusing shark nets with barriers creates a serious public safety issue. Many people are left with the false impression that shark nets physically separate sharks from swimmers, when in fact, they don’t, they are simply a fishing device.
Whether intentional or negligent, this repeated error dangerously misguides public understanding, perpetuates myths, and undermines the important discussion around modern, non-lethal, and scientifically supported shark mitigation strategies.
These two apparatus are fundamentally different. Swimming enclosures are a fully enclosed physical protective barrier that physically separates swimmers from marine life without harming either. They run from the seabed to the surface, connect to the shore at both ends, and fully enclose a swim area.
In contrast, shark nets are a taxpayer-funded culling device from the 1930s that don’t even fully surround a beach, nor prevent sharks from entering. Shark nets, although indiscriminate, are designed to catch and kill marine life.
The idea that shark nets form a protective barrier is pure fantasy. They’re not barriers and do nothing of the sort. In truth, they sit 300–500 metres offshore, covering a patch of water barely longer than a football pitch, keeping in mind the beaches they are set at are often kilometres long. The rest of the ocean is wide open such that sharks can easily swim around, under, or over as if the nets aren’t there at all. To put this into perspective, imagine the Australian Open Grand Slam being played in Rod Laver arena, not over a tennis net, but over a ping pong net. Obsolete.
This misconception leads to a false sense of security for swimmers and beach users.
Shark Net (used at coastal beaches in Queensland and New South Wales, 300-500m from shore, no poles are used) | Shark Barrier (used in harbours, estuaries and at some Western Australian beaches, shore/beach based, may have support poles) |
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Shark Nets
Small fishing nets set 300–500 metres offshore, parallel to the beach
Float in the water column, suspended from buoys
Designed to entangle and kill all animals that swim into them
Not taut, they move with the tide and leave gaps that sharks can swim over, under and around
No visible netting above the waterline
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Swimming Enclosures (Shark Barriers)
Fully enclosed from seabed to surface, connect to shore at both ends
Held taut by fixed posts, creating a barrier that blocks sharks and large marine animals
Netting is often suspended above the waterline by the posts
Made from taut netting, metal wire, wooden posts, or other materials
The bottom line is that shark nets and swimming enclosures (barriers) are not the same thing, and the difference matters.
Clear reporting and understanding of this distinction helps the community make informed choices about beach safety and pushes the conversation toward non-lethal, effective solutions that protect both people and marine life.
What You Can Do
Whenever you see a news article, TV report, or social media post that uses false illustrations of shark nets (for example, showing a swimming enclosure or barrier instead), take a moment to let the journalist or outlet know. This mistake happens all the time, and correcting it helps ensure the public gets accurate, life-saving information.
