Beaches in Southern California are witnessing an unprecedented rise in sightings of juvenile great white sharks this spring. The spike in shark sightings has been sparking concern ahead of the summer season, when California’s beaches will be filled with beachgoers, surfers, and swimmers.
From Huntington Beach in Orange County to beaches in Santa Barbara County, there have been increasing reports of juvenile sharks appearing in shallow waters in recent months.
In late April, two foil surfers surfing off the Santa Barbara coast were in for a surprise when a 10- to 11-foot shark suddenly appeared and began chasing one of them for over two miles, lasting several nerve-wracking minutes. After an intense chase, the shark eventually lost interest and swam off.
Earlier that month, the popular Sunset Beach at Huntington Beach was closed for 48 hours after a white shark was spotted showing aggressive behavior and feeding on a sea lion near the shore.
A shark sighting also temporarily paused a surf competition in Huntington Beach for 24 hours in April.
Despite the alarming number of sightings in the ocean, researchers said that the surge is, in fact, a good sign.
Warm Ocean Temperatures Acting as a Nursery
Great white sharks are partially warm-blooded, which helps them to stay active in colder waters. Young white sharks prefer warmer waters, as it helps them maintain a warmer body temperature than the surrounding water, since swimming in cooler waters expends more energy.
Additionally, warmer water, referred to as the ‘Goldilocks’ zone, maximises baby white sharks’ growth, allows them to dive deeper to hunt for a variety of prey, and aids their metabolism.
While Southern California’s beaches double as a nursery for young sharks during the summer months, attracted by the region’s shallow coastal waters, this year they began arriving earlier than usual.
The shallow waters also protect the young sharks from larger predators.
Spring was unusually hot this year in Southern California, which created favorable conditions for juvenile white sharks to swim closer to the shore.
The early onset of warm temperatures, along with the forecasts of a strong El Niño cycle, is further pushing ocean temperatures, which are driving shark activity in the region.
At the same time, the gradual warming of ocean temperatures due to climate change is also reshaping the broader marine ecosystem.
Citing researchers at the California State University Long Beach Shark Lab, a Los Angeles Times report said that juvenile white sharks have been arriving in California from Baja as early as February. These sharks usually arrive in late April or early May.
The warming waters are making Southern California’s coastline more attractive to the sharks than it was decades ago.
No Need to Panic
This sudden surge of young sharks is not a reason to panic, as the actual risk of shark attacks on humans is considerably low.
Incidents of shark attacks on humans in California are “extremely rare,” according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
Since 1950, there have been fewer than 250 shark incidents in California involving multiple shark species, most of which involved white sharks. Of those, fewer than 20 were fatal.
However, all the fatalities likely involved white sharks.
CDFW noted that despite a significant rise in human activities on beaches (swimming, surfing, and scuba diving), shark incidents have not increased proportionally.
In fact, more people in California may be swimming next to sharks without realizing it. Drone studies conducted by the Shark Lab found that humans and sharks were swimming near each other 97% of the time at monitored congregation sites.
Juvenile sharks often tend to “bump” bigger objects, possibly as a learning experience as they evolve into bigger marine mammals, according to the CDFW.
Shark Sightings Are a Good Sign
While spotting a shark swimming past you is far from enjoyable, the gradual increase in the species returning to the region is a signal of a healthy marine ecosystem.
Thanks to state and federal regulations, pollution has been curtailed, which has helped to repair the marine food chain.
A few decades back, California’s waters were heavily polluted with contaminants, particularly DDT (a pesticide that can have long-lasting effects on marine life and humans). Although DDT was banned in 1972, it is considered to be a “forever chemical,” with scientists still finding high concentrations of the pesticide in marine animals off the coast of Los Angeles.
The sightings of the young sharks indicate that the water is healthy enough to sustain generations of the species.
Additionally, California’s ban on the fishing of white sharks in 1994 also helped their population to rebound over the years.
White sharks also play a key role in maintaining a balance in the marine ecosystem by preying on seals and sea lions, the CDFW explained.
Studies have shown that reintroducing sharks to a marine ecosystem has helped restore seagrass meadows and coral reefs, according to the Los Angeles Times report.
As unsettling as it might feel to spot a shark fin tearing through the waters while enjoying the sun and surf this summer, researchers say that this very sight signals that the ocean is healing and is becoming healthier.
Really happy to see the sharks are thriving. I rewatched “Jaws” last week. A movie that stands the test of time, but scandalously served to encourage the massacre of any and all things shark. We humans never get done villifying sharks.
Only last week it was reported that the ocean all along San Diego beaches and further north have been inundated with BILLIONS of gallongs of untreated sewage, trash and Industrial chemicals. This horrific influx of pollution orginates from Tijuana, Mexico. I hope the ocean can recover quickly and that the ocean life hasn’t been too severely affected. Hopefully, this shameful fouling of the sea won’t reach us here in Santa Barbara County.