Shark nets:
- are designed to catch sharks that pass through the area
- do not create a barrier between water users and sharks
- do not prevent sharks from entering an area.
Locations
Large mesh nets are set parallel to the beach to catch sharks more than 2 metres long.
View the map of shark control equipment at Queensland beaches.
Nets are not used within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Design
- 124 to 186 metres long, with a mesh size of 500mm
- Installed offshore away from water users
- Attached to floats and dropping 6 metres deep into the water
- Anchored to the sea floor to ensure they stay in place
- Set according to the prevailing tides and currents of the area
Captured animals
Target shark species caught in nets are removed and euthanised.
Non-target shark species are removed from equipment and released alive whenever possible.
Maintenance
The nets are serviced regularly by independent contractors, weather permitting.
They are removed from the water for maintenance and replaced at least once every 21 days.
Last updated: 16 Apr 2024