A rare whale shark, measuring between 14 and 16 feet long, was observed swimming in clear waters off the California coast approximately 300 miles from land. The sighting occurred on Wednesday between Santa Barbara Island and Malibu.
Commercial fisheries pilot Carl Sbarounis was alerted to the discovery by a friend, Ryder DeVoe. Sbarounis, who was in the vicinity, captured video and photographs of the massive fish. "Rare species are cruising through our SoCal waters. Hope to catch some more exciting species during this El Nino," Sbarounis stated on Instagram, noting that he last saw a whale shark three years prior.
Whale sharks are the largest sharks in the world and are known to be harmless to humans. They primarily feed on plankton, krill, and sardines and typically inhabit tropical waters, commonly found off the coasts of Australia, Baja California, and in the Persian Gulf.
According to Sbarounis, these sharks tend to appear in local waters when the ocean temperature is warm, particularly during El Niño events. California's ocean waters have recently experienced unusually high temperatures, which has led to an increase in sightings of tropical marine life, including large bluefin tuna appearing off Northern California.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted a 75 percent likelihood of a historically strong El Niño this winter, a climate cycle that occurs every two to seven years and shifts between warm El Niño and cool La Niña phases. During El Niño, the trade winds that normally move warm water across the Pacific towards Australia weaken, leading to a buildup of warm surface water off the west coast of South America that can spread and raise global temperatures, impacting weather patterns worldwide.
The World Meteorological Organization has reported that sea surface temperatures in the core region of El Niño are already significantly above average and continue to rise. Some underwater areas have been recorded as much as 46 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. Forecasts for September to November indicate that global land areas are likely to experience above-normal temperatures.
Sbarounis also reported seeing other unusual marine life during his flight, including uniquely colored manta rays such as tan-brown rays and spinetail devil rays, characterized by a black stripe.