Shark Nets: A False Sense of Security

When you think of shark nets, you might imagine a safe barrier protecting swimmers from the ocean’s top predators. But the reality is very different. Shark nets are not walls that keep sharks out. They are simple fishing nets, designed to catch and kill — and their effectiveness at protecting people is highly questionable.

A look back in time

Shark nets were first introduced to Sydney beaches in 1937, after a series of shark attacks caused public fear. At first, the nets weren’t permanent. They were moved from one beach to another, meaning some beaches went unprotected for days at a time. During World War II, from 1943 to 1946, they weren’t in place at all.

In the first 15 years of deployment, statistics from the time tell a revealing story:

• Attacks on beaches with nets in place: none

• Attacks on days when nets weren’t set: none

• Attacks during the war years with no nets at all: none

• Attacks on netted beaches while nets were deployed: one

That single attack happened at Merewether Beach on December 6th, 1951. The victim was 21-year-old Frank Olkulich, the reigning Australian Surf Ski Champion. Known for his strength and bravery, Frank had just weeks earlier swum 300 metres out to retrieve a capsized surfboat. He lived with his widowed mother, a Polish immigrant, and had a bright future ahead. His death was more than just a statistic — it was a human tragedy.

Why the nets don’t work

Even back in the 1950s, researchers like T.C. Roughley pointed out that shark nets didn’t truly prevent attacks. Attacks were already extremely rare, averaging about three a year across Australia, with 70% fatal. The media, however, sensationalised the “gory details,” creating fear that outweighed the actual risk.

Shark nets don’t form an enclosure. Sharks can swim around them, under them, or even through gaps. What they do very effectively, however, is catch marine life. Not just sharks, but dolphins, turtles, rays, and harmless species that are vital to ocean ecosystems.

The uncomfortable truth

Despite decades of evidence showing their limited effectiveness, shark nets remain in place on many beaches. Governments and councils continue to back them as a safety measure, largely because they “look” reassuring to the public.

But the truth is clear: shark nets offer little real protection to swimmers while doing enormous damage to marine life. Victims like Frank Olkulich — real people with families and futures — deserve better than token measures that don’t actually make us safer.

Moving forward

It’s time to rethink our approach. Smarter, non-lethal technologies already exist — from drone surveillance to personal deterrents — that can help keep swimmers safe without sacrificing marine life. If history has taught us anything, it’s that shark nets are not the answer.