A shoreline in Orange County, California, was closed Nov. 5 after beachgoers reported “aggressive shark activity.”
City officials closed Sunset Beach shoreline and ocean in Huntington Beach, a 1.5-mile stretch mostly used by locals for sun and surf, Sunday afternoon after investigations into a beached whale led to shark reports, according to a city press release posted on social media.
A young whale washed ashore near a lifeguard tower at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday. Upon inspection, lifeguards reported seeing bite marks on it and discovered from beachgoers they had seen splashing and aggressive shark activity before the whale washed ashore, according to the city.
Officials then closed the area, according to Jennifer Carey, public affairs manager for the city.
“We issued a closure of one mile in each direction of where the incident took place for 48 hours,” she told The Epoch Times.
The sand remains open to the public, but water access is closed, she added, and the city has posted signs around the area to notify visitors.
“It should be pretty obvious and apparent where to avoid the shoreline and ocean,” Ms. Carey said.
The city will continue to monitor the ocean for sharks but have not seen any since the incident, according to Ms. Carey.
If none are reported, the area will reopen at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7, per city policy.
The city has notified other agencies about the incident, including the Pacific Marine Mammal Center and surrounding cities.
