New Swan River shark barrier design revealed

Swan River swimmers can soon enjoy a guaranteed shark-free dip at Bicton Baths courtesy of a new barrier.

Using technology designed to never break apart, the developers promise the barrier – which will be connected to the jetty to enclose it – will protect humans from sharks, will not trap other creatures, and will not impact the environment.

Bicton Baths is the site of the new barrier.

The 55-metre-long, three-metre-high enclosure will be installed by mid-December.

“It’s over-engineered for what it needs to do. So it should last many, many years over here without having a problem,” Global Marine Enclosures managing director Edward Khoury said.

He hoped the barrier would create peace of mind.

“As a parent myself, and as almost-a-grandparent myself, [I know] your concern is that the children are safe. At the moment, letting your kids go into the water, not knowing what can happen, is very scary.

“Knowing that there is some form of protection is very important.”

The state announced it would install such an enclosure at Bicton after the death of 16-year-old Stella Berry as she swam with friends in the riverin February.

It was the first fatal Swan River shark attack in more than a century.

The barrier will protect swimmers while not impacting other creatures.

Local swimmers have often resorted to wearing shark-deterrent bands around their ankles, without a comprehensive Swan River shark mitigation scheme.

Khoury said the barrier solved a safety problem, while not impacting the sharks. Barriers of this kind are already installed in Quinns Beach and Albany.

“Really, we’re going to need more in the rivers,” he said.

“And we’re going to need more in the ocean. Because people want to swim, and they want to be safe, and they want their kids to be safe.”

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