Building A Better Shark Net

[@Djwhiskers]

Awesome vid, I'm sure the barrier also helps catch swimmers caught in riptides and strong currents going out to sea, which double its usefulness

[@AtomicFrontier]

Thanks! Thats a really good idea - didn't even think of that as a use. Lots of swimmers often go along it though, so they might be using it for similar reasons

[@subasurf]

The same barrier is used down at Coogee and Cott. The octopus seem to love hiding in the heavy duty anchor chains.

[@rosannamckee1511]

Great video to explain it, I’ve just started swimming there and I’m working up the courage to go right out to edge in the deeper water! I feel much more confident now I have watched this!

[@AtomicFrontier]

Wow, thats awesome! Hope your deep-sea adventures go well! Perfect weather for it :)

[@cameronealey3274]

My dad actually works for shark shield mentioned in that articles in the magazine! The device feels really weird when you're using it and is kinda a warm reminder that it works!

[@TheSkate2skater]

Really well produced video! Good job. What a simple, yet effective fix.

[@dickiedollop]

This is outstanding and so heartening to hear that larger creatures are not dying as they trapped on the older net solution 👍🏻

[@smowoluwu]

1:16 i cant get over the water distorting his feet like that

[@stella7375]

Please explain how this prevents the shark from jumping over the net?

[@AtomicFrontier]

Excellent question! In the original version of the video (before I cut it for the sake of flow) I actually spend a while discussing this. Sharks do indeed jump out of the water occasionally, but unlike dolphins which do this for fun, its always in the final stages of an attack. It is unlikely that these final stages (which normally occur in much deeper waters and with much denser seal populations) will just happen to take place in the perfect location for the shark to reach the other side of the net. In addition, although we've observed sharks and dolphins swimming along the net several times, it appears that they just perceive it as a solid barrier with nothing on the other side (which is why dolphins also don't get in), so the concept of jumping over it probably wouldn't register anyway. Hope that helped!

[@randomaccount8260]

Atomic Frontier Thanks I really wanted a video and answer like this thank you 😊

[@douglasparkinson4123]

AA guns

[@dukezone69]

Well done young fella!! 👍👍

[@pilotdane]

What about the weight of accumulated growth on the barrier? Does the barrier get cleaned or are larger weights added to support the weight of the marine growth?

[@Iazzaboyce]

It's in water, so buoyancy reduces weight. Drag would likely be a bigger factor, but there appears to be plenty of weights and floats to hold it in place.

[@liam_hurlburt]

How are tides handled? Wouldn't the barrier need to be different heights throughout the day?

[@himcfly4339]

if you look at one point the bottom of the net is laying across the seafloor, I'm guessing that it is made for high tide and then during low tide it sinks, because of the floats it can stay at the surface of the water

[@redpandamaniacal]

Cool video! What I'm wondering is how you managed to snorkel under water!

[@rucay]

Love your work! Good stuff brother

[@frankesposito2182]

Great Job guys !!!

[@frankesposito2182]

"""Thats the WAY""" the Net is made....a BARRIER that helps Sealife and keeps everyone safe !!!

[@scissorluvvvvvv9228]

“does this actually protects us from sharks?” *continues to go towards the net*

[@halcyongeezer]

It's great that it's porous, allowing little fish and water to pass through; but if enough marine vegetation grows on it, couldn't it end up becoming a less porous wall, preventing water etc from passing through?

[@WODtri]

It's a possibility, but they are usually "replaced" in the winter months and replaced in the summer.

[@MrBeachwaves]

Thanks for an interesting documentary! Do you happen to know if Gold Coast’s Council has considered using such a shark net along its shores?

[@MrKalebW]

Nicely done James.

[@adamlouis3725]

what would stop a baby shark from swimming in then growing inside?

[@sierrrrrrrra]

I've always heard that shark attacks are an extremely rare occurrence, at least where I live (on the literal other side of the planet). Are they more common in WA?

[@AtomicFrontier]

Yup! The amount of beaches I've surfed at only to see on the news someone being chopped at the same place weeks later is truly concerning. We had a particularly bad stretch of attacks just prior to filming, although I think there have been less recently.

[@sierrrrrrrra]

@@AtomicFrontier that is horrifying, and I'm glad solutions and precautions are taking place! The ocean is a truly beautiful and dangerous place... my friend has a panic attack in the water once and I had to pull him out. Almost had to call the coast guard. Scary stuff! I've gone to the beach my whole life but only now am I understanding the dangerous water I swam in as a child XD

[@Artrysa]

So you're saying that if I want to swim past the barrier, I need shark repellent batspray.

[@jessicastephendauer8371]

Very interesting, great video!

[@Kemetian401]

are those plastic barriers will not destroyed after a stong shark or whale hit, i think that any big shark of ork whale can destroy it easly or jump over it

[@mareksto1]

Great recommendation XD

[@cavemann_]

That's amazing

[@orchid92wateradventurecomp5]

GOOD JOB SIR U R GREAT

[@ouyo9291]

Add this to ny!

[@reneesantiago6496]

Cant dolphins and sharks dive over it?

[@brunokarina8174]

.

[@owenfinney3057]

this boi with his big brains must be a ladys man for sure.

[@andreaziz5499]

How abut Harpoons-electric stunguns operated by beach gaurds,and a shark BarbeQ

[@AtomicFrontier]

I like your attitude, but the conservationalists might be a bit upset

[@enekaitzteixeira70I0]

@@AtomicFrontier So you like the attitude of an imbecile suggesting the extermination of a vital endangered animal. I wonder what kind of person are you.