'Aggressive' Great White Shark Shuts Down OC Beach

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — An aggressive shark shut down an Orange County beach Tuesday.

Entry into the water from Seapoint to the Huntington Beach Pier was closed Tuesday after reports of a 10 to 12-foot great white shark acting aggressively.

The shark was seen by a foilboard surfer circling in the water close to shore, a sign of aggressive behavior, which prompted authorities to shut down a stretch of coastline around a mile north and south of Tower 16, firefighters said.

The closure was expected to remain in effect until 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Huntington Beach Fire Department.

Beachgoers were advised to be vigilant of posted signage and to follow instructions from lifeguards to ensure safety.

Chris Lowe, director of the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, told The Los Angeles Times that the great white may have been an adult hunting for elephant seals.

His research team planned to scour the Orange County coast on Wednesday in search of the shark to study its behavior.

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