Hammerhead shark spotted near Malibu Pier

A rare hammerhead shark was spotted near the Malibu Pier in Southern California, a sighting captured on video by local fisherman Ari Kohanchi. The shark was seen swimming near the surface, briefly attracting the attention of several fishermen on the pier.

Experts attribute the presence of the shark to unusually warm ocean temperatures driven by a strong El Niño cycle and the effects of climate change. Nate Jaros of the Aquarium of the Pacific noted that surface waters reaching over 70 degrees Fahrenheit allow these species to move north to hunt. Brendan Talwar from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography added that while uncommon, such sightings are becoming more predictable under current environmental conditions.

The shift in water temperature is also bringing other uncommon species to the region, such as barracuda, and raises concerns regarding the impact of warming waters and potential algae blooms on native marine life.