A shark barrier includes a plurality of resiliently flexible, elongate members that extend in a generally upright condition between a sea floor and a sea surface. The elongate members are arranged so as to have the appearance of a thicket, preferably a kelp forest, when viewed from within the water and include magnets to assist in deterring certain shark species. The elongate members may be secured to the sea floor by an anchoring base and are held in the generally upright condition by a buoy or buoyant material held within the elongate members.