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Great White Circles Surfer Off OC Coast, Prompting Beach Closures
Lifeguards closed Newport Beach for four hours after an 8-foot juvenile great white shark circled a surfer amid rising shark activity linked to warming waters and El Niño.
- On Thursday, Newport Beach Fire Department lifeguards confirmed an approximately 8-foot juvenile great white shark circling a surfer off 35th Street, prompting authorities to clear the water one mile east and west.
- Unseasonably warm Pacific Ocean waters and the start of an El Niño cycle are drawing juvenile white sharks to Southern California, mirroring behavior patterns observed in 2015 and 2016, according to Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab Director Chris Lowe.
- Lifeguards ordered a minimum four-hour closure, monitoring the area via tower patrols and an HB-1 helicopter flyover. The NBFD confirmed that "shark sightings are rare along our coastline," noting these animals typically transit through the region.
- Authorities reopened the beach area by 5:45 p.m. Thursday after deeming the waters safe. "Shark sighted" warnings were posted during the incident, but officials reported no injuries to the surfer or beachgoers.
- Lowe predicts more sightings in coming weeks as unseasonably warm waters persist. He advises swimmers to avoid dawn and dusk, trust their instincts, and remain in groups, noting sharks generally do not consider humans food.
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Los Angeles TimesReposted by 
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Upstract8-foot great white circles Newport surfer. Get ready for a 'very sharky summer,' expert says
An 8-foot great white shark was spotted circling a surfer in Newport Beach on Thursday afternoon, triggering an immediate shutdown of the nearby shoreline, authorities said.
·Los Angeles, United States
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Shark Sighting in Newport Forces Beach Closure
A shark sighting in Newport Beach Thursday forced city officials to close access to the water at the beach off 35th Street. About 1:15 p.m. Thursday, lifeguards were alerted to the sighting of an 8-foot great white shark circling a surfer near 35th Street beach, said Georgia Rios, a spokeswoman for the city. Initially, officials planned a four-hour closure but decided to extend it until further notice, Rios said. Beachgoers can still enjoy the s…
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Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution74% Center
Bias Distribution
- 74% of the sources are Center
74% Center
13%
C 74%
13%
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