Coronado lifeguards are carefully monitoring local waters after a sighting of at least two juvenile white sharks was confirmed off the City’s coast on Wednesday and Thursday, June 26-27.
The sharks were at least a quarter to a half-mile offshore and did not appear to be engaging swimmers or showing any signs of engaging swimmers. Following statewide protocol developed by the California Marine Safety Chiefs Association with the assistance of Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, the beach was not closed.
“Under existing protocol, the City was not required to close the beach or publicly report the sightings,” said City Manager Blair King. “However, the City feels it’s important for the community to know that it takes these types of sightings seriously and is carefully monitoring the waters off Coronado. We also are working with Chris Lowe at the Shark Lab to find out more about the separate sightings and what might be going on.”
The City reached out to Lowe to inform him of the shark sightings. Lowe asked the City for its help in confirming the size and possible type of shark. A San Diego Fire Department helicopter was requested by the Lifeguards to fly over the water. At about 4 p.m. on Thursday, Copter 1 confirmed at least two 4-5-foot long white sharks off the City’s coast. A Lifeguard continued to follow the sharks on Thursday afternoon as they headed north toward Point Loma.
Two Coronado Lifeguards spotted possibly the same sharks on Wednesday, June 26. The sharks did not approach the shore and were not considered threatening. The City properly followed its protocol.
Lowe informed the City that he plans to try to tag or take DNA from the sharks over the weekend. He said it is not uncommon to see juvenile white sharks offshore. They are not as big a threat as adults, which can range from 13 to 21 feet long. The shark population is rising, and sightings are becoming more commonplace.
Source: City of Coronado Press Release
