Sharks & SoCal beaches
We show shark advisories and closures only when a lifeguard agency has issued them. We don't post rumors or predictions.
Current official advisories
No official shark advisories on file right now
That means no lifeguard-agency advisory has been verified and approved for this site. It doesn’t mean sharks are absent: sharks, including juvenile white sharks, live along the SoCal coast year-round. Always check with lifeguards and posted signs.
Recent official advisories
None on file yet.
Shark news
- ‘Aggressive’ great white shark seen in waters off Huntington Beach. Keep out, officials say · Los Angeles Times · Oct 14
Also: CBS News, The Inertia - Kayaker bitten by shark in SoCal. What we know · USA Today · Oct 5
- Large shark attacks kayak fisherman in Malibu · KTLA · Oct 4
Also: ABC7 Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles, CBS News, SURFER Magazine
Headlines from a Google News search (RSS) for SoCal shark terms, kept only if they name a SoCal beach or city, come from an established news outlet, and are from the last 30 days; one entry per story. Headline, outlet, date and link only.
What the levels mean
Southern California lifeguard agencies follow a regional shark policy developed with the CSULB Shark Lab. In short:
- Unconfirmed sighting (one person, no corroboration): lifeguards keep watching. We don't change a beach's badge for these.
- Confirmed sighting: advisory signs go up about 1 mile each direction and are re-checked the next morning. Shown as Shark advisory posted
- Aggressive behavior or an incident: the water is cleared about 1 mile each direction, typically for up to 24 hours (48 hours after a fatal incident). Shown as Water closed (official)
Source: Laguna Beach Marine Safety shark policy; see also Newport Beach and Seal Beach. Each agency's exact practice may vary.
Our rules
- A beach's shark badge changes only for an official advisory or closure that lists the agency, a source link and a time, and that we've reviewed before it appears.
- No predictions, no shark "risk scores", no gore, no hype.
- "No official advisory on file" means no official advisory has been posted and approved for this site. It is never an all-clear.
- If we can't read our advisory file, badges show Status unknown, check lifeguards.
If you see a shark
- Calmly leave the water and tell the nearest lifeguard.
- In an emergency, call 911.
- Researchers welcome sighting reports and video: see the CSULB Shark Lab.
Learn more
- CSULB Shark Lab: white shark research and beach-safety education.
- SharkEye (UC Santa Barbara): drone shark monitoring and alerts near Carpinteria.
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: white sharks, including the state's shark incident records (open data).