A world first electromagnetic 'shark curtain' will be installed this week at an iconic tourist attraction in the south-west of Western Australia.

Key points: The Busselton Jetty will host a world first trial of a virtual 'shark curtain'

The Busselton Jetty will host a world first trial of a virtual 'shark curtain' The virtual barrier is made up of 20 devices emitting electromagnetic pulses

The virtual barrier is made up of 20 devices emitting electromagnetic pulses The pulses deter sharks and manta rays, but do not harm other marine life

The Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-plied jetty in the southern hemisphere and last year attracted more than 500,000 visitors.

Swimming has always been possible at the end of the attraction, but a survey of 9,000 people over four years found some tourists were too scared of sharks to dive into the water.

"People want to get into the water and they want to see our amazing marine life, but they have this unsubstantiated fear that there is always something out there," Busselton Jetty CEO Lisa Shreeve said.

To help alleviate those fears, 20 electromagnetic devices will form a 50 metre by 20 metre barrier at the end of the jetty, creating a virtual curtain to keep sharks and manta rays away.

"They emit an electromagnetic pulse," Ms Shreeve said.

"The closer they [sharks] get to the poles the more uncomfortable they feel and they turn away."

The installation of the shark shields has begun and will work by emitting low-frequency electrical pulses. ( ABC South West: Jacquie Lynch )

Virtual 'net' safe for marine life

The shields, created by company Ocean Guardian, work in the same way as personal shark shield devices popular with surfers and divers who wear them in the water.

While the devices help to deter the sharks, marine biologist Sophie Teede said it did not hurt them.

"The sharks don't like the short, low frequency electrical pulses because they irritate their ampullae of Lorenzini, their electrical detection organs," she said.

"If we were sharks and we swam up to these Ocean Guardians we would have this overwhelming sense to back away.

"It doesn't hurt them at all, it is just an irritant to make them want to move away."

Ms Teede said because other marine life did not have the same receptors, they did not react in the same way as sharks would.

Thousands of tourists visit the Busselton Jetty every year, but some are too scared to swim near it. ( ABC South West: Jacquie Lynch )

Where are all the sharks?

Shark sightings are not common around the Busselton Jetty, however there have been several attacks in the wider south-west WA region, including two during the Margaret River Pro that saw the event cancelled.

Some swimmers are not fazed about swimming at the jetty before the shield is installed. ( ABC South West: Jacquie Lynch )

Ms Shreeve said the technology was not in response to shark sightings, but was about giving tourists peace of mind.

"I think there is un unsubstantiated fear that there are a number of sharks out in the ocean and the Busselton jetty goes 1.8 kilometres out to sea. So this will hopefully alleviate those fears," she said.

Busselton Mayor Grant Henley welcomed the technology and its goal to ease international visitors' concerns, but questioned its need.

"I think we already have enough mitigation for our regular visitors and people who understand the marine environment a bit more and love going to the jetty in any case," he said.

There is hope that the technology will encourage more international tourists to swim and create a picture-perfect image for their social media feeds.

"It's that Instagrammable moment," Ms Shreeve said.

"That's great for us because it helps promote tourism throughout the region."

It is expected swimmers will be able to access the area this week.