Swimmers Warned Of Rare Shark Sightings In Orange County
SEAL BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Two juvenile white sharks up to six feet in length have been sighted in the waters off the coast of Seal Beach and Sunset Beach, authorities said Wednesday.
Officials with the Seal Beach Marine Safety Department confirmed the sightings around 10 a.m. outside of the surf line off of Surfside Beach.
The confirmation comes after officials received reports and video of sharks swimming in the area, according to Seal Beach Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey.
"This is really the first time we've had a confirmed sighting of a white shark in our water," Bailey said.
By late afternoon, the sharks were spotted off Sunset Beach.
In response to the sightings, the Marine Safety Department has posted signs on the beach warning beachgoers of the possible hazard, Bailey said.
"We posted warning signs on the beach. We did not close the water. We just want to warn the public that these sharks are out there and they've been out there for at least a couple days," Bailey said. "We want people to make their own informed decisions on whether they're gonna get in the water or not."
Shark sightings along Seal Beach are "rare" in the area, according to Bailey, who added that when sharks are seen, they are "typically passing through our waters, en route to another destination."
Swimmers, surfers and other beachgoers were warned to use caution.
