Safety net in water. Photo: Shutterstock // Stefan von Ameln
The Department of Lands in Western Australia has approved the installation of a 300-meter nylon barrier at Coogee Beach, just south of Perth. This is an effort to keep waters safe for swimmers despite the fact that no fatal shark attacks have occurred since records started being kept. According to a report by ABC News Western Australia, Coogee Beach isn’t a particularly sharky area either, but the idea that it creates peace of mind is attractive to officials.
In the same report, Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said, “…it’d be a great thing for the company and also for communities around the world in terms of having a protective barrier in place so they can go swimming safely.” The mayor also believes this shark net won’t endanger any marine life in the area either. The holes in the net are small enough so sharks can’t fit through yet large enough for smaller fish to pass easily. “Having looked at the actual design, I’m reasonably confident it’s not going to be trapping any sea creatures in it and of course that will be monitored by the company, by ourself and no doubt by the community,” he said.
The mayor has also said that should the barrier cause any problems, it will be removed. Any potential problems will be tracked by Form Designs–the company that built the nets.
