Brace for a ‘Sharky Summer’: Rising Ocean Temperatures Spark Shark Surge at SoCal Beaches

It’s officially “Jaws” season along the coast.

As Southern California welcomes the onset of summer, experts are alerting the public to a likely uptick in shark activity near the shorelines and in shallow waters.

“The water temperatures have been rising steadily—unusually warm,” noted Chris Lowe, who leads the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, in an interview with the Orange County Register. “We suspect this has prompted female sharks to return earlier for birthing. All indicators suggest a busy summer for shark activity.”

Recent shark sightings have already stirred concerns among coastal communities.

In Newport Beach, authorities temporarily restricted ocean access after a surfer observed a shark swimming and circling beneath her board.

Further north in Hermosa Beach, a fisherman captured the internet’s attention when he hooked a juvenile great white shark and made efforts to safely release it back into the ocean.

Lowe said researchers are closely monitoring local waters, warning that unusually warm ocean temperatures and a potential El Niño could recreate conditions seen a decade ago, when sharks moved closer to shore.

But sharks don’t want waters that are too warm either, making Southern California an ideal breeding ground.

“They’re sort of like the three bears — they don’t like it too warm or too cold,” Lowe said. “They want it to be just right. And right now, off Southern California, it is just right.”

Shark sightings in Southern California have surged, with drones spotting sharks near beachgoers on 97% of survey days. Still, actual shark bites remain extremely rare — averaging fewer than two per year statewide — according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Tracking data shows sharks have been especially active across Santa Monica Bay and up toward Santa Barbara, possibly scouting summer habitats.

Beaches like Long Beach and Huntington Beach could once again become hotspots, according to the local paper.

Juvenile sharks — typically 5 to 6 feet long — prefer shallow, sandy waters where they can avoid predators while feeding on stingrays and smaller sharks near shore.

Despite the increase in sightings, experts stress attacks remain rare. Drone footage shows sharks often swimming just beneath beachgoers — largely ignoring them.

“People and juvenile sharks appear to coexist,” Lowe said. “Humans aren’t seen as prey.”

Still, with warming waters and crowded beaches ahead of major global events, researchers say vigilance — and continued funding — will be key to keeping swimmers safe.

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