Shark Researchers Issue Dire Safety Warning Ahead of Beach Season

Sharks swim just under the surface in a lagoon in French Polynesia.

Shark researchers in California have expressed concern about the upcoming beach season and the safety of swimmers.

Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, recently told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that its program–which tracks shark sightings and keeps tabs on other aspects of marine life–could run out of funding by mid-summer, taking a real bite out of its safety efforts.

"It's getting pretty serious," Lowe told the outlet. "We have enough money to carry us through June but after that, if we don't get more funding, we're going to have to pull out all of the equipment out of the water. We won't be able to monitor sharks along California anymore."

Shark Lab's most influential program, by far, includes monitoring hundreds of adult and juvenile sharks that swim along the Southern California coast and letting local lifeguards know when sharks get too close to the shore, where swimmers could be present.

Related: The Incredible Way One Surfer Survived a Shark Attack

CSULB Shark Lab has operated its beach-safety program in the area since 2018. It's now turning to the private sector in hopes of raising enough money to cover the costs associated with running the operation so it can continue well past this summer season.

According to the official description, "The mission of the Shark Lab is to study the physiological and behavioral ecology of marine animals, emphasizing the effect of human activity on the ocean." It also works to "utilize and develop innovative technology to answer challenging questions important for the conservation and restoration of depleted populations; and to train the next generation of marine biologists."

"Everything that we learned from our science gets out to the public, and this is unique," Lowe added. "It's considered one of the best shark mitigation programs in the world."

Studies conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in December 2022 concluded that, on average, there are less than three shark attack incidents annually. While that may seem like a low number, many lifeguards and swimmers presumably find solace in knowing that CSULB Shark Lab has its eyes on the water at all times–and they likely want to keep it that way.

Those interested in supporting researchers' efforts can find more information about making a contribution on the CSULB Shark Lab website.

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