Shark Sightings Increase in Newport Beach Amid El Niño Conditions
Shark Sightings Increase in Newport Beach Amid El Niño Conditions
US · Published Mar 28, 2026
Increased shark sightings in Newport Beach, CA, are linked to warmer waters from El Niño.
Experts predict a 'sharky summer,' but emphasize that shark presence indicates a healthy ocean ecosystem.
Beachgoers are advised to stay vigilant and follow safety guidelines to minimize risks.
Shark sightings up, El Niño blamed, concerns rise
Shark sightings have increased in Newport Beach, California, prompting concerns due to an 8-foot juvenile great white shark circling a surfer. This incident led to a temporary beach closure. Experts, like Chris Lowe from the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, attribute the increase to unseasonably warm weather and the onset of an El Niño cycle, predicting a 'very sharky summer.'
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