A great white shark has died at an Auckland beach after getting caught in a fishing net.

Photo: 123RF

The Department of Conservation (DOC) said the 2.7m juvenile female was accidentally caught in the gill net by fishermen this afternoon, prompting an effort by the public to refloat it.

DOC's technical advisor for its marine species team Clinton Duffy said despite the attempts, the shark did not survive.

He said most species of shark needed to swim constantly in order to breathe, and the trapped shark also had rope marks on its body.

Duffy said the great white would now be used for research.