Great white sharks frequent California coast due to El Niño

An unusual increase in great white shark sightings is occurring along the California coast, with researchers recording approximately 20 animals per day at certain beaches. Some sharks have been spotted as close as 15 meters from the shore, occasionally in shallow water.

Marine biologists from the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach attribute this phenomenon to the El Niño climate pattern. The warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean has altered habitats, prompting young sharks—which typically stay near Mexico and Southern California—to migrate further north.

The shallow coastal waters of Southern California serve as a nursery where young sharks find abundant food, such as fish and rays, and protection from larger predators. This year's activity began earlier than usual, with researchers detecting young animals as early as February, whereas they are typically expected in April or May.