A shark cruising a bit too close to a surfer off Newport Beach on Friday was enough for lifeguards to hit pause on water access, even as crowds stayed put on the sand. Ocean users were quickly warned out of the water while officials kept an eye on the surf and reassessed conditions. No injuries were immediately reported.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, lifeguards posted warning signs and temporarily restricted people from entering the ocean, but did not clear the beach itself. Video from the scene shows officials monitoring the area and waiting to give the all-clear before letting swimmers and surfers back in.
How lifeguards respond
Newport Beach lifeguards follow a set of ocean-safety procedures when a shark is reported, according to the city's lifeguard operations. That can include everything from clearing surfers out of the lineup to posting advisory signage along the shore. Past closures in the area, including a widely reported 2015 sighting that shut a one-mile stretch of coastline, show how officials prefer to err on the side of caution.
Once a shark is spotted, lifeguards typically continue to monitor from shore and may patrol by boat and air until they decide conditions are safe enough for people to head back into the water.
Why sightings are rising
Researchers say juvenile great white sharks commonly use Southern California beaches as nursery habitat and can show up surprisingly close to people, according to the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. As Chris Lowe told Los Angeles Magazine, "Most people do not realize that our front yard, L.A.'s front yard, is home to one of the largest nurseries for white sharks in the world." Scientists say warmer water and shifting migration patterns are among the factors that make sightings more likely along popular beaches.
What to do if you see a shark
If you spot a shark, experts recommend exiting the water calmly, keeping your eyes on the animal while you back toward shore, and alerting lifeguards as soon as you are safely out. Conservation group, Shark Stewards, advises staying in groups, avoiding lots of splashing, and reporting sightings so officials can post warnings and keep watch on the area.
Those straightforward steps give lifeguards the best chance to protect the public while they scan for any further shark activity.
City officials urge beachgoers to obey posted warnings and to check the Newport Beach Lifeguard Operations page for the latest beach conditions. This story will be updated if officials release additional details.
