A particularly warm Pacific Ocean will likely mean an increase in great white sharks in Southern California waters this summer, according to one of the region’s leading shark experts.
CSU Long Beach Shark Lab director Chris Lowe said researchers saw an increase in baby white shark births in February, which typically occur in April. He attributes the rise to a marine heat wave that began in December and has shown little relief.
“White sharks are actually really good meteorologists,” Lowe said.
An increase in white sharks still poses a minimal risk to humans, Lowe said. Shark Lab research shows the species has always been there, although most beachgoers don’t realize it; sharks tend to ignore humans.