Reinventing the shark net.

If you don’t want to go into the ocean because you’re afraid that you’ll be attacked by a shark, you’re not alone. But if you think that a shark net will protect you, think again. The nets can be effective, to a point, but there’s a cost, and dolphins, turtles and rays get entangled and can fall prey to the sharks the nets were meant to deter. One study from Australia’s University of Wollongong reported that 94% of what nets catch are non-target species. Another study said that using drones, alongside emergency response, is a better approach and as a result, many beaches along the Australian coast are opting for drone surveillance. But what happens in areas where high-tech solutions aren’t an option, such as swimming beaches where people simply want to enjoy the ocean?

For Dr Sara Andreotti, a marine biologist and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Stellenbosch (SU), the mainstream solution to shark management was unacceptable and outdated. The idea of killing sharks to curb shark attacks may have been acceptable in the ‘50s and ‘60s when we didn’t know any better, but in 2025, there’s a greater understanding of the impact of shark nets on the ocean ecosystem. Andreotti says South Africa is still using shark nets on 36 beaches. In places like Fish Hoek, there are shark spotters alongside a small mesh exclusion net that’s installed in the morning and removed at night. “And that depends on the conditions of the sea. If it’s too rough, they cannot put it in or leave it there as small mesh traps everything,” she says. Australia has opted for eco-barriers made out of plastic, but in some small towns, they ended up being a concern as they could easily trap surfers or surfboard leashes.