It’s peak bulking-up season for white sharks in Monterey Bay, and over the previous week, two animals beforehand tagged by scientists handed by the waters close to Lovers Level — the identical space the place swimmer Erica Fox vanished Sunday, after witnesses reported seeing a shark close by, specialists mentioned.
Fox, the 55-year-old co-founder of leisure swim group Kelp Krawlers, was far forward of greater than a dozen swimmers returning to Lovers Level seaside in Pacific Grove early Sunday afternoon, however by no means got here ashore.
Marine biologist Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State College, Lengthy Seashore, mentioned the rocky shoreline close to Lovers Level attracts sea lions, and seals additionally frequent the waters offshore. Each are main prey for white sharks.
Massive white sharks migrate from offshore within the Pacific to the coast in October to bulk up on seals and sea lions, sometimes remaining by January.
“They will hunt and they will patrol off these areas where these animals congregate,” Lowe mentioned.
At round 12:15 p.m. Sunday, a driver at a cease signal on his technique to work known as 911 to report seeing a shark burst out of the water about 100 yards off Lovers Level with what he believed to be a human protruding from its mouth, U.S. Coast Guard petty officer Charlie Valor mentioned Tuesday. The person mentioned the shark re-entered the water and didn’t resurface, Valor added. Pacific Grove police Commander Brian Anderson mentioned a second witness additionally reported seeing a shark breach the water in that space.
No stays have been recovered, nor has anybody reported discovering any of the gear Fox was sporting whereas swimming, Anderson mentioned.
A buoy operated offshore by Stanford College’s Hopkins Marine Station collects pings from tagged white sharks transferring by the world. It recorded 5 sharks swimming inside about 500 yards of Lovers Level this month, together with two up to now week. However marine biologist Barbara Block, whose lab oversees the monitoring mission, mentioned the tagged sharks characterize solely a fraction of the animals within the area, making it not possible to hyperlink a particular shark to Fox’s disappearance.
If Fox was taken by a white shark with out leaving a hint, “that would need to be a big shark,” Lowe mentioned.
Since 1950, sharks have killed 16 individuals in California, in line with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife. All have been decided to be white sharks besides in a single case, in Level Reyes Nationwide Seashore in October 2023, the place the species was not confirmed.
Within the Monterey space, 13 individuals have been bitten by white sharks since 1950, leading to two deaths, 9 main accidents and two minor accidents. Most victims have been divers or surfers; solely two swimmers have been attacked.
Sunday’s disappearance marks the third shark-related incident at Lovers Level since June 2022, when one other Kelp Krawler, Steve Bruemmer, was bitten and severely injured whereas swimming. Two months later, a paddleboarder and his canine have been thrown from their board however unharmed when a shark bit it from beneath.
Shark assaults usually fall into three classes — predatory, unintentional and defensive — although the explanation behind any particular incident is commonly unclear, Lowe mentioned. The rarity of assaults suggests white sharks don’t view people as prey.
“We’re clearly not on the menu,” Lowe mentioned. “Otherwise people would be bitten and eaten all the time.”
Some incidents might happen when sharks mistake people for prey, Lowe mentioned.
Specialists cautioned that the ocean stays a wilderness, with each dangers and rewards.
“You can get hurt,” Lowe mentioned, however “the more you know, the safer you can be.”
Lovers Level, a rocky promontory alongside scenic Ocean View Boulevard with two small crescents of seaside beside it, was featured as one of many state’s prime swimming spots within the 2024 e book Locations We Swim California. The e book described Lovers Level as particularly standard amongst swimmers in winter.
“Cheerful regulars, dressed in neoprene caps and gloves, brave the icy water for their daily dopamine release,” the e book by Australians Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon mentioned.
“Like in California we understand swimming comes with risks and sharks are out there in the water,” Clements mentioned. “It’s so rare that someone gets bitten but it is a reality. Lovers Point is a beautiful spot loved by many, which is why we included it, and I hope this doesn’t deter people from swimming there.”
Individuals coming into near-shore waters ought to be aware of the occasions of 12 months and areas the place white sharks are extra widespread, and may take note of the presence of prey animals akin to elephant seals, harbor seals and sea lions, Lowe mentioned.
Swimming near others can cut back threat, he mentioned. “Your probability of being bitten is lower if you’re in a group.”
Remaining in shallower water may decrease the prospect of an encounter, as white sharks sometimes assault from beneath. Deep water “gives the animal the ability to investigate something from below,” Lowe mentioned.
Authorities on Monday afternoon suspended the seek for Fox after about 15 hours of air and water operations involving the U.S. Coast Guard, Pacific Grove police, Monterey County Sheriff’s Workplace divers and Monterey firefighters.
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