Shark Swims Dangerously Close to Surfers Off Southern California Beach
Footage shows a shark's fin near surfers at El Porto Beach, amid a recent increase in marine wildlife encounters along the coast.
A shark was captured on video swimming remarkably close to surfers at El Porto Beach in Manhattan Beach, California. The footage, shared Friday by social media influencer Josh Hublitz, shows the marine predator in shallow water near the shore.
"Ankle deep water. That is super sketch," Hublitz stated on Instagram, where he posted the video. He noted that this was the first time he had seen a shark at El Porto Beach. The video depicts the shark's dorsal fin visible as it moves through the water close to the coastline.
One commenter on social media suggested the shark might be a juvenile thresher shark, known to hunt baitfish near the shore. The exact species of the shark has not been confirmed.
This sighting occurs amidst a series of shark and other marine life encounters along the Southern California coast in recent months. On Tuesday, the Huntington Beach Fire Department temporarily closed a two-mile stretch of the beach after a 10- to 12-foot great white shark was observed near Lifeguard Tower 16.
Earlier in the summer, a 9-foot great white shark was spotted off La Jolla, prompting officials to issue warnings. Scientists suggest that unusually warm ocean temperatures, potentially linked to an El Niño pattern, may be influencing the behavior and migration patterns of some marine species, driving them closer to shore.
In addition to sharks, other unusual marine life has been observed. Two endangered olive ridley sea turtles were found nesting on Orange County beaches, marking the first documented nests for the species on the West Coast. Rare hammerhead sharks have also been seen off Malibu, and venomous sea snakes have washed ashore along the Southern California coastline.