Multiple Shark Sightings Prompt Advisory In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — A new shark advisory was in effect Thursday in Long Beach, where a group of sharks was reported to have been spotted in the shallow waters off the coast.

The Long Beach Fire Department's Marine Safety Unit said lifeguards were working with researchers Wednesday morning and tagged one of the sharks, the Los Angeles Times reported. By the afternoon, at least four sharks had been spotted near the Peninsula oceanfront.

The sharks were about 5 to 6 feet long, said Capt. Cameron Abel of the LAFD's Marine Safety Unit. He told The Times the sharks are believed to be juvenile great whites.

Lifeguards issue an advisory to alert those on the beach when they confirm a reported sighting and usually lift it if they go a day without seeing a shark, Abel said, adding that the sharks have shown no aggressive behavior.

On Saturday, about 10 to 20 juvenile Great White sharks were spotted in the same area, prompting a similar advisory.

Some of the juvenile sharks spotted off the coast occasionally are 6 feet long.

City News Service, photo via Shutterstock