8-Foot Shark Spotted Near Venice Shoreline

VENICE, CA — A shark sighting near the Venice Pier Monday prompted a warning from Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards.

Lifeguards spotted an 8-foot shark about 100 yards offshore Monday afternoon at 12:35, according to the fire department. The shark was north of the pier. Authorities did not report any aggressive behavior by the shark, and there were no other sightings of the animal Monday.

Authorities did not identify the species of shark. It's not uncommon to see juvenile great white sharks that size near the Los Angeles County coastline. Juvenile great whites feed off fish and stingrays abundant in the area. The juvenile sharks tend to range in length from five to eight feet, and they usually steer clear of humans. It's not until they are a little older, closer to 10-feet in length, that they become more of a threat to swimmers or surfers.

A 10-foot shark, typically three to five-years-old, is big enough to feed on an adult seal and will begin feeding on marine mammals. The bigger sharks typically head up the coast and further out to sea to feed on larger prey.

Monday's sighting did not trigger any closures. However, the sighting served as a reminder to beachgoers to take precautions.

"If you see a shark:· Exit the water immediately. Notify the closest Lifeguard. Remember, sharks are a part of the marine ecosystem," County lifeguards.