El Nino continues to strengthen and warm the Pacific Ocean and marine researchers say this is creating what scientist Chris Lowe calls “an entirely different ocean.” The warmer waters are causing an increase in tiger sharks and tropical fish; however, also bringing an influx to California’s coast.
“I believe we will experience a ‘sharky’ summer off the coast of California this year,” stated Dr. Chris Lowe, a marine biology professor at CSU Long Beach and director of the university’s Shark lab.
The juvenile white shark is the most prominent issue. These young sharks prefer a specific water temperature band and when the water heats-up, they migrate north.
In 2015, there were double the number of juvenile white sharks off the coast of California from previous years. These sharks reached as far north as Monterey. Lowe believes that a similar migration is occurring currently.
It is not only white sharks that make an appearance with El Nino. Historically, tiger sharks and bull sharks have made appearances off the coast of California during previous El Ninos.
According to Lowe, during the 2015-2016 El Nino season, there were reported hammerhead shark bites of people swimming off the coast of California.
Additionally, yellow-bellied sea snakes, which typically live in tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans have appeared dead on southern California beaches. These snakes are extremely venomous.
Red Tuna Crabs, which have never before been seen in such quantities, appeared by the hundreds of thousands on Southern California beaches in May. Additionally, a manta ray and even a striped dolphin have been spotted in northern California.
According to Douglass McCauley, Director of the Benioff Ocean Initiative at UCSB, changes in whale behaviors have occurred due to this change in ocean conditions. “The expectation is that numerous other strange tropical creatures will appear as a result of these warm waters,” stated McCauley.
However, none of this indicates that your beach vacation should include extreme caution. Since 1950, less than 250 documented shark attacks have taken place in the state of California.
Lowe suggests simply paying attention to where you are in the water and noting schools of fish or diving birds; if you observe either of those items, it could indicate larger predators approaching.
2026-07-31 22:59:00
