Cottesloe Beach closed as shark stuck inside barrier

The company was reengaged after a tender process by the Town of Cottesloe to build a new $400,000 eco-friendly barrier, a project bankrolled by the state government.

The new structure was installed in November.

Eco Shark Barrier was contracted to build and install WA’s first shark net in North Coogee south of Perth in 2013, before installing similar barriers in Sorrento and Esperance.

How did the shark get in?

The eco shark barrier is made from nylon and extends from seabed to surface.

While the structure is rigid enough to prevent large animals from breaching the barrier, it is specifically designed to be flexible enough to allow the passage of small marine life.

The technology is considered more environmentally friendly than the mesh nets used on the eastern seaboard, which have drawn criticism over their efficacy and tendency to trap and kill stingrays, turtles, harmless sharks and dolphins.

WA scrapped the use of smart drumlines in 2021 following a $6 million two-year trial after the state’s top scientist concluded they were ineffective at reducing the risks posed by great white sharks.

How prevalent are sharks in WA?

Figures released by Surf Life Saving WA in 2024 reported a significant increase in shark sightings, with reports in the metropolitan area up 60 per cent from the prior year.

Over that time period, about 430 sharks were spotted and reported to SLSWA — with the majority of those sightings occurring in the summer months.

There were six shark attacks reported in Western Australia in 2024, none of which were fatal.

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