Eco Shark Barrier CEO Craig Moss and Town of Cottesloe Mayor Phil Angers at Cottesloe Beach for the new shark barrier installation.
Camera IconEco Shark Barrier CEO Craig Moss and Town of Cottesloe Mayor Phil Angers at Cottesloe Beach for the new shark barrier installation. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis

Shark barrier still gets seal of approval

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

ECO Shark Barrier inventor Craig Moss says his invention still keeps out sharks after a small seal was spotted near the new enclosure off Cottesloe Beach yesterday.

“Seals jump over the barrier, they jump out, I’ve seen it at the barriers we have at Sorrento and Coogee heaps of times,” Mr Moss said.

He said seals’ curiosity was enough for “big males to jump over and play with you, then go over to the other side”.

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A four-day installation of the 310m barrier, which is costing Cottesloe Council $835,000 over four years, was completed for its opening this morning .

Mr Moss said a seal small enough to “squeeze” through the gaps in the non-lethal plastic grids comprising the barrier was seen on rocks.

He refuted the a visitor who indicated a shark may still get inside.

“Sharks don’t get over the barrier, they see it as an underwater obstacle,” he said.

Both Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club president Mike Franz and Cottesloe Mayor said they had not seen the seal this morning.

Mr Franz said swimmers were already doing laps along the barrier’s outer boundary and the club was getting ready for expected crowds drawn to the beach by tomorrow’s forecast 40C and interest in the barrier.