Aggressive Great White Shark Prompts California Beach Closure

Lifeguards closed a section of Huntington Beach in California after a foil board surfer reported seeing an 'aggressive' great white shark circling approximately 300 feet offshore. The Huntington Beach Fire Department confirmed the credible report of the 10-12 foot shark near Lifeguard Tower 16 on October 13.

Marine Safety protocols classify circling behavior as aggressive. As a precautionary measure, the water was closed from Sea Point Street to the Huntington Beach Pier, though visitors were permitted on the sand.

Experts from the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab suggested the shark may have been hunting for elephant seals. Researchers deployed a drone, jet ski, and rescue boat to verify the sighting but did not locate the animal. The surfer who reported the encounter was not harmed.

This marks the second shark sighting in Huntington Beach this year, with a previous encounter resulting in a 24-hour closure. Sightings of sharks along the California coast have increased since June. Experts attribute this trend, in part, to warmer El Niño ocean conditions, which create favorable temperatures for juvenile white sharks in Southern California waters. These warmer conditions may encourage juvenile sharks to remain in nearshore areas later into the year.

"Even when beach-goers don't notice, the sharks are around people all the time in the ocean," stated Chris Lowe, Director of the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab. He noted that juvenile white sharks typically prefer ocean temperatures between 67 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and warmer waters can shift their preferred range northward, leading them to coastal California areas.

Officials are advising the public to remain vigilant and adhere to all posted signs and instructions from lifeguards. "Public safety remains our top priority," the fire department stated.