If you’re planning to spend time in the ocean this summer in Southern California, scientists have a prediction: expect to see more sharks.
According to researchers at the California State University Long Beach Shark Lab, Southern California is shaping up for what could be an unusually active season for juvenile great white sharks. The reason? A combination of abnormally warm ocean temperatures fueled by an ongoing marine heatwave in the Pacific and the arrival of El Niño conditions.
“We predict it’s going to be a very sharky summer,” Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the CSULB Shark Lab, previously said about the upcoming season. And more recently, he explained more about what people can expect as we head into summer.
“So, when you see an El Niño coming, you predict there will be double the sharks,” asked a broadcaster in the video above from ABC News”
To which, Lowe replied: “Exactly.”
Fortunately, the sharks most likely to be encountered along Southern California beaches aren’t the giant adults that dominate headlines. Instead, they’re juveniles—young great whites typically ranging from a few feet to several meters in length that use the region’s shallow coastal waters as nursery habitat.
Southern California has become one of the world’s most important nursery grounds for juvenile great white sharks. The warm, protected waters provide ideal conditions for young sharks to grow, while an abundance of prey—including fish, stingrays, and other marine life—offers a reliable food source.
Related: Horrific Shark Attack Caught on Camera at Florida Naval Base (Video)
According to Lowe, warmer water temperatures allow the young sharks to expand their range and remain in coastal areas for longer periods. Researchers have documented growing numbers of juvenile great whites along beaches stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego over the past decade, a trend that appears likely to continue this year.
Just recently, a curious, larger shark was spotted via drone circling a surfer just south of Santa Cruz. Check out the footage below.
The increased shark activity doesn’t necessarily mean increased danger. Despite thousands of documented shark sightings annually, attacks remain extremely rare. In fact, juvenile great whites primarily feed on fish and rays rather than marine mammals or humans.
So, what’s a surfer or swimmer to do this summer season?
“We know there’s safety in numbers,” Lowe said. “Statistically, it is very rare for someone to be bitten if they are in a group. But they’re more likely to be bitten if they are by themselves. So, swim together, surf together…it’s more fun anyway, and it’s safer.”
Regardless, if you’re alone or not, they’re out there. Lowe added:
“I always tell people that if they spend any amount of time in the water off Southern California, I guarantee a white shark swam by you and you didn’t even know it.”
Related: Great White Shark Swallows Camera in Wild SoCal Encounter (Video)
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