[1] Shark barrier design has evolved from rudimentary fencing materials to netted structures held in place with buoys and anchors.
Shark barriers are seen as a more environmentally friendly option as they largely avoid bycatch, however they cannot protect the same sized area as culling methods.
[5] The shark nets are more suitable for surf beaches as they can be anchored beyond the deepest sandbank and can be easily taken out of the water whenever any big swell is forecast.
Shark barriers are often made out of netting; held in place by a system of piles, anchors and buoys.
Netted barriers are susceptible to damage from strong ocean forces and so are generally limited to sheltered bays and beaches and favourable seasons and weather conditions.
Unlike the long-line and gill-net designs commonly used in Australia and South Africa, these are permanent installations and work as barrier nets.
They are suspended off 225 mm HDPE pipe or BL14 Marine Float Lines, and anchored strongly to resist the many typhoons and waves up to 10 m. They are anti-fouled, and spend an average of 9 months a year in the water.
[13] On the 27 August 2016 a surfer lost an arm and a foot from a shark attack whilst surfing within one of the share enclosures.
[17] The "Bionic Barrier" was designed to overcome some of the issues that arose in the trial, including increasing flexibility with hinge panels to adapt to tides and swell.
[15] It was also noted that the barrier acted as a form of artificial reef or FAD (fish attracting device) which was seen as a positive point of interest for the beach.
[19] Installation of the "eco barrier" by Eco Shark Barriers at the popular surf break Lighthouse Beach, Ballina, on the New South Wales far north coast, had been stopped by the amount of sand movement which made it impossible for divers to install the moorings.