State data shows fewer than 250 shark incidents recorded since 1950
The Huntington Beach fire department closed a two-mile stretch of beach on Tuesday after receiving what it described as a credible report of a 10- to 12-foot great white shark circling near a lifeguard tower. The closure spans the area between Seapoint and the Huntington Beach pier, a stretch popular with surfers and swimmers in Orange County. Workers have posted warning signs and notified visitors.
The beach is scheduled to remain closed through Wednesday afternoon under the city’s standard response. The fire department said the shark was “exhibiting aggressive behavior,” which under the city’s “shark response protocols” — administered by its marine safety division — is considered grounds for the closure.
“Please follow all posted signs and instructions from lifeguards. Public safety remains our top priority,” the fire department said in a statement.
The sighting comes amid an unusually high presence of great white sharks along the California coast this year. Over the summer, juveniles fled warm waters off Mexico amid El Niño conditions. Experts said humans should not be alarmed by the elevated shark activity.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife characterizes shark bite incidents as “extremely rare.” The agency has recorded fewer than 250 shark incidents in the state since 1950, with fewer than 20 resulting in fatalities.
Scientists cited by the department say most such incidents involve “exploratory bites” — sharks investigating “unusual objects in their environment, such as kayaks” — rather than predatory behavior.