Hammerhead shark and other marine life spotted off Southern California coast

Unusually warm ocean temperatures driven by El Niño and broader climate trends are bringing subtropical marine life closer to the Southern California coast. A rare hammerhead shark, likely a smooth hammerhead, was recently filmed swimming near Malibu Pier, a sighting that marine experts note is uncommon for these nearshore waters.

In addition to hammerhead sharks, researchers have observed an increase in stingray sightings in shallow surf zones from Seal Beach to Huntington Beach, leading to more accidental encounters with beachgoers. Humpback whales have also been seen surfacing near Newport Beach and Palos Verdes, drawn by the movement of warm-water anchovies and krill.

Experts from the Aquarium of the Pacific and California State University, Long Beach suggest these shifts are a result of the current marine heat wave. NOAA has noted that this is only the third recorded instance of such a broad span of coastal water remaining warm for this duration.