A surge in great white shark sightings has been reported along the California coast, with experts attributing the increase to warmer ocean conditions and climate change.
A breathtaking moment was captured by a California resident as an enormous great white shark leaped out of the Pacific Ocean near Monterey Bay. Erin King, a California beachgoer, shared the moment a great white shark appeared to interrupt her scenic photo while she visited Marina State Beach on October 17.
According to Chief Ranger Mike Dippel from California State Park, given where King was standing and the timestamp on her video, which matched up perfectly with the timestamp on the surf line video, it's very likely to be the same shark. Dippel explained that the fall season has been a common time to see great whites along the Central Coast.
Just days before King's social media video was posted, an 'aggressive' great white shark was spotted by a foil board surfer off the shore of Huntington Beach. Officials were prompted to close the waters for safety precautions on October 13. The Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that warmer ocean conditions have led to a surge in shark sightings along the California coast since June.
Experts have anticipated 'a larger presence of white sharks in Southern California as a result of warmer El Niño ocean conditions.' Director Chris Lowe, from Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, told the LA Times that juvenile white sharks enjoy spending their time in ocean temperatures that are around 67-to-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, shark sightings have surged since June. The agency reported that warmer waters shift the preferred range for juvenile white sharks northward from Mexico and lead them to stay in California nearshore areas later in the year.
Source: Daily Mail Home
