Omari Gates
Shark nets are a common method of protecting swimmers at busy beaches in Australia, but they have been deemed harmful to marine life and ineffective in reducing shark attacks. While some Australian states continue to use lethal methods such as shark nets and drum lines to manage target shark species, Western Australia has taken a different approach. In response to public protests and recommendations from its Environmental Protection Authority, Western Australia has abandoned shark culling and adopted non-lethal measures such as drone technology, electronically tagging and tracking sharks, and setting up eco barriers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shark nets in Western Australia | Western Australia does not use shark nets or SMART drumlines |
| Shark culling in Western Australia | Western Australia has abandoned shark culling in favour of non-lethal alternatives |
| Alternatives to shark nets in Western Australia | Drone monitoring, eco barriers, electronically tagging and tracking sharks, personal shark deterrent devices |
| Effectiveness of shark nets | Research suggests that shark nets are ineffective in reducing shark attacks and harmful to marine life |
| Shark attacks in Western Australia | Between 2010 and 2013, seven fatal shark attacks occurred in Western Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia's non-lethal approach to shark control
Western Australia has adopted a non-lethal approach to shark control, moving away from the traditional use of shark nets and culling practices. This decision was driven by the recognition that shark nets are ineffective and harmful to marine life, often resulting in the entanglement and death of non-target species. Instead, Western Australia has implemented the following measures:
- Drone Technology: Drones equipped with artificial intelligence systems can detect sharks and set off alarms to warn swimmers, providing real-time surveillance and early warnings.
- Eco Barriers: Also known as "swimming enclosures," these barriers keep sharks out of designated swimming areas without posing a risk of entanglement to marine life.
- Electronic Tagging and Tracking: Scientists monitor target sharks' feeding opportunities and use these instances to tag and track the sharks, providing valuable data for shark management.
- Personal Shark Deterrent Devices: The Western Australian Government offers a rebate scheme for independently tested and verified devices that meet scientific effectiveness thresholds. This encourages individuals to take proactive measures to reduce the chance of shark bites.
- Education and Community Engagement: Shark education is provided at beaches, schools, and community events to raise awareness and empower individuals to make informed decisions about beach safety.
- Beach Patrols and Spotter Aircraft: While less effective in reducing shark attacks, these measures provide additional layers of surveillance and response capabilities.
The non-lethal approach in Western Australia contrasts with the shark control programs in New South Wales and Queensland, which continue to utilise lethal methods such as shark nets and culling. However, there are ongoing calls from environmental groups and conservationists to transition to non-lethal technologies across Australia, prioritising the protection of marine life and human safety alike.
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Shark nets' ineffectiveness and harm to marine life
Shark nets are ineffective at reducing shark bites and harmful to marine life. They are simply small nets in a vast ocean that do not prevent sharks from swimming close to the shore. Sharks are migratory species, travelling many kilometres each day, hence relying on shark nets to mitigate shark bites is ineffective.
Recent figures published by the state of New South Wales reveal that almost all the animals caught in the nets during the 2022/23 summer season were "nontarget" species, including turtles, dolphins, rays, and endangered shark species, most of which died due to entanglement in the nets. In Queensland, if these "nontarget" species are caught on a shark net or a lethal drumline, they are killed regardless of whether they pose any risk to humans. These "nontarget" species caught in shark nets also include whales.
In Western Australia, non-lethal measures such as drone monitoring, electronically tagging and tracking sharks, and setting up "eco barriers" are used instead of shark nets. These measures are considered better for marine life and people.
There are two types of nets: those that trap and kill sharks, and those that create a shark "exclusion zone" where people can swim safely without fear of attack. The "exclusion zone" nets have a very fine mesh and are virtually harmless to all marine species. However, they are prone to degradation by waves and currents. The trapping nets are effective at reducing shark numbers but are undesirable because of the amount of other marine life they trap and kill.
Community education is considered the best way to reduce the risk of shark bites. Shark listening stations and personal deterrent devices can also help reduce the chance of encountering a shark.
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Shark tagging and tracking
Western Australia has abandoned shark culling and the use of shark nets in favour of non-lethal alternatives such as drone monitoring, "eco barriers", and shark tagging and tracking.
The Western Australian Government has implemented one of the strongest, evidence-based shark mitigation programs in the world. This includes the Shark Monitoring Network, which is supported by a dedicated shark tagging program. The tagging operations primarily focus on white and bull sharks, as well as tiger sharks, which are considered high-risk as they are the most frequently involved in serious shark bite incidents.
The tagging program in Western Australia is run by scientists who monitor target sharks' feeding opportunities, such as whale carcasses, to tag feeding sharks. This approach requires a science-first directive, where scientists, not contractors, coordinate tagging activities. Between 1 May 2023 and 1 July 2024, listening stations in Western Australia picked up 497 individual target sharks, a significantly higher number than those caught by shark nets.
The NSW Government also has a large shark tagging program, which involves fitting sharks with external and internal acoustic tags and identification tags. This enables scientists to register the natural movements of the sharks and determine the environmental and biological factors affecting their distribution in coastal and international waters. The tagged sharks can then be detected on a network of real-time tagged shark listening stations located along the NSW coast. When a shark swims within approximately 500 meters of one of the stations, an instant alert is sent to the SharkSmart app, which beachgoers can download to receive tagged shark alerts.
In addition to tagging and tracking sharks, the Western Australian Government offers a rebate scheme for independently tested and verified personal shark deterrent devices.
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Shark deterrent devices
Western Australia has abandoned shark culling and the use of shark nets in favour of non-lethal alternatives. These include drone monitoring, "eco barriers" (swimming enclosures that keep marine life out), and electronic tagging and tracking of sharks.
The Western Australian Government offers a rebate scheme for personal shark deterrent devices that meet a scientific threshold of effectiveness. Currently, only devices from two brands meet the criteria: Ocean Guardian and Rpela.
There is an emerging market for personal shark deterrent devices, but it is not well regulated. Therefore, it is important to only use independently tested and verified devices. One such device is Sharkbanz, which is worn on the wrist or ankle and has been shown to deter not only sharks but also stingrays. Another device that has been shown to be effective is the Freedom + Surf, which has been shown to repel both white sharks and bull sharks, although it only reduces the risk of being bitten by about 60%. The Ocean Guardian Freedom + Surf has also been shown to be effective, causing the percentage of bait taken by sharks to drop from 96% to 40% in a study.
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Shark education and beach safety
Shark nets have been a common method to protect swimmers at busy beaches in Australia. However, in Western Australia, these lethal methods have been abandoned in favour of non-lethal alternatives such as drone monitoring, eco-barriers, and electronically tagging and tracking sharks. This shift towards non-lethal measures is a result of the harmful impact of shark nets on marine life and their questionable effectiveness in reducing shark attacks.
Shark nets were initially introduced in 1935 to cull shark populations, with the belief that having fewer sharks would reduce the risk of shark attacks. While some claim that shark nets have been successful in reducing shark-related fatalities, others argue that improved beachfront response times and advancements in first aid procedures are the primary reasons for declining fatality rates. Research by Associate Professor Laurenson supports this view, suggesting that shark nets may even have a contra effect, giving people a false sense of security and leading to reduced caution. Furthermore, shark nets not only kill target shark species but also endanger and kill other protected marine life, including turtles, dolphins, and whales.
Western Australia's approach to shark control now focuses on non-lethal measures. Drone technology is used to spot sharks from the air, and eco-barriers are set up to create swimming enclosures that keep sharks out without risking entanglement. Additionally, the government offers a rebate scheme for independently verified personal shark deterrent devices from select brands.
Community education is recognised as a crucial aspect of reducing the risk of shark bites. State departments in Western Australia run shark education programs at beaches, schools, and community events to promote beach safety. This includes encouraging high-risk groups, such as surfers, spear-fishers, and divers, to use scientifically verified personal shark protection devices.
While beach nets have traditionally been a go-to method for shark control, Western Australia's adoption of non-lethal alternatives sets a precedent for exploring innovative and environmentally friendly approaches to beach safety and shark interaction reduction.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Western Australia has abandoned shark nets and shark culling in favour of non-lethal alternatives such as drone monitoring, eco barriers, and personal shark deterrent devices.
Eco barriers are swimming enclosures that keep marine life out but do not pose a risk of entanglement.
Shark nets are ineffective and harmful to marine life. They do not prevent sharks from swimming close to shore, and they kill a lot of other ocean creatures.
Other non-lethal alternatives include beach patrols, spotter aircraft, and increased air patrols.
Yes, the states of New South Wales and Queensland continue to use lethal shark control methods such as shark nets and drum lines.
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