A great white shark was spotted feeding along the shoreline of Sunset Beach, north of Huntington Beach in California near Los Angeles, prompting authorities to close part of the coastal waters for 48 hours, local media including NBC reported on Saturday (local time).
The Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division said on its official social media that around 10 a.m. that day, lifeguards directly witnessed a great white shark measuring 9 to 10 feet (approximately 2.7 to 3.4 meters) feeding on a sea lion carcass along the shoreline. "The shark was displaying aggressive behavior close to shore," the division said, adding that "the risk becomes even greater when a shark is feeding on large prey." Authorities closed approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of coastal waters centered on Sunset Beach for 48 hours as a precautionary measure.
Huntington Beach, known by the nickname "Surf City, USA," is one of Southern California's premier marine tourism destinations, hosting major events such as the annual US Open of Surfing and attracting surfers and tourists from around the world.
According to California wildlife management authorities, shark attacks on humans are extremely rare. Since 1950, fewer than 250 shark-related incidents have been recorded in California, with fewer than 20 resulting in fatalities. However, the frequency of sightings has been rising recently. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), 10 shark-related incidents were recorded in California in 2025, the highest annual total for a single year since 1950. The number of injuries stood at four, short of the record for most injuries in a single year. In the same year, a swimmer was killed in a great white shark attack while marathon swimming off the coast near Monterey. Separately from the latest incident, awareness of shark-related risks has been increasing across California.
Experts warn that great white sharks can react more sensitively and aggressively than usual while feeding. Lifeguards have completely banned swimming and surfing during the closure period and are continuously monitoring the shark's movements.
