Shark Spotted in Manhattan Beach
Aug 27, 2022 04:34PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Stock photo - Not the actual shark!
On Friday afternoon, a shark was spotted in the ocean in the El Porto area of Manhattan Beach.
The L.A. County Lifeguards announced that just after 5:00 p.m, a 6- to 8-foot shark (species unknown) was observed in the waters off Manhattan Beach.
The sighting was confirmed by a lifeguard and two surfers in the area.
According to the L.A. County Lifeguards, no signs of aggressive behavior were observed.
Beach goers and surfers in the area were notified of the shark sightings. Meanwhile, Baywatch Redondo completed a search of the area with no further findings. Lifeguards remained on scene to monitor the situation.
Shark Safety
Some female sharks swim closer to the coast when the water is warm, as in late summer, to give birth to their pups. Sharks also swim closer to the shore when their prey (i.e. sea lions) are there. It is important to remember that the ocean is the sharks' home.
A shark expert offered the following ocean swimming and shark safety tips:
- When in the ocean, always stay aware of your surroundings.
- Act like a predator: Continuously move and turn around, so if a shark sees you, it thinks that you, too, are a predator looking for prey.
- If you see a shark, don't turn and bolt in the opposite direction. That might convey to a shark that you are prey. Instead, make eye contact to show that you are aware of them but you are also a predator.
- Slowly back away, but avoid splashing and making noise - again; don't make yourself look like prey.
- Remember that sharks pass by and ignore humans more often than humans realize they are around.
