Shark and Ocean Education

Seal Beach lifeguards are trained professionals who monitor nearly two miles of ocean beaches daily for a variety of issues to ensure the public’s safety.

Recently, there has been an increased occurrence of shark sightings in the ocean waters off Southern California. We have developed this site to provide the public with information about ocean safety. The City has taken measures to increase staff’s knowledge about these increased sightings and to provide an educational platform for the public.

Several measures have been implemented in partnership with other lifeguard agencies and professionals in the field of marine wildlife. Below are a few of the measures that the City is currently following.

Shark Policy

Regional lifeguard agencies have developed a shark policy (Policy) with the assistance of Dr. Chris Lowe from the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Shark Lab. The Shark Lab has been monitoring shark activity since 1966 and Dr. Lowe is considered an expert in the field. He continues to be a valuable resource to the City of Seal Beach.

Lifeguard personnel across the region use the Policy as a guideline and implement similar procedures when responding to any sightings or aggressive behavior as noted below.

  1. Unconfirmed shark sightings are reports typically from a single individual without any supporting evidence or sightings by another party.
    Actions Taken: Lifeguards continue to monitor the area and determine if other sources can confirm or deny the reported sighting.
  2. Confirmed shark sightings are reports from an individual that is confirmed by multiple individuals, a lifeguard or other City representative.
    Actions Taken: Lifeguards post the beach area up to one mile in each direction of the sighting with advisory signs indicating that a shark has been sighted. Lifeguards continue to monitor the area and the posted signs remain in place until the area is re-evaluated the following morning. If additional shark sightings are confirmed the next day, the advisory signs remain in place until the area is re-evaluated the following morning. This process will continue until the shark is no longer seen in the area.
  3. Non-fatal shark incidents are when a shark is reported as having aggressive behavior (bumping, circling, rushing) near swimmers or when it causes an injury to a person.
    Actions Taken: Lifeguards clear the ocean waters and post signs one mile in each direction for up to 24 hours. Lifeguards continue to monitor the area and re-evaluate the situation to determine when to open the areas.
  4. Fatal shark incidents are when a shark has caused the death of a person.
    Actions Taken: Lifeguards clear the ocean waters and post signs one mile in each direction for up to 48 hours. Lifeguards continue to monitor the area and re-evaluate the situation to determine when to open the areas.

Monitoring

In partnership with the CSULB team, lifeguards have recently deployed acoustic receivers at the within the Seal Beach City limits. These receivers record any previously tagged marine animal, including sharks, which come within 500 yards of the receiver (depending on the animal’s transponder).

To collect the data, lifeguards remove the receivers from the water and download the data. They then replace the receivers in the water. The collected data is transmitted to the CSULB Shark Lab for review and is uploaded into its larger database. When there is an indication of a marine animal's presence in Seal Beach's ocean waters, the information will be logged on our marine animal monitoring log.

Resources

Ocean Safety Tips

  • Learn to swim.
  • Know your swimming abilities and don’t go out deeper than your abilities allow.
  • Swim near a lifeguard and check in with a lifeguard before enter the water.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Always be alert of your surroundings.
  • Do not fight the current.
  • Never swim while intoxicated.
  • Leash your surfboard or bodyboard.
  • Protect your neck from spinal injuries.
    • STOP, watch, and walk into the water.
    • DON'T dive headfirst into any unknown water.
    • DON'T dive toward the bottom into oncoming waves.
    • DON'T stand with your back to the waves.
    • DON'T jump or dive from a cliff, pier, jetty or bridge.
    • Avoid bodysurfing, bodyboarding or surfing straight "over the falls." Ride the shoulder.
    • In a "wipeout," land as flat as possible with your hands out in front of you.
    • While bodysurfing, keep an arm out in front of you to protect your head and neck.
    • When in doubt, DON'T DIVE, play it safe!