The Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach in California is facing the threat of shutting down after the state pulled funding for the California Shark Beach Safety Program, which monitors great white sharks along Southern California’s coastline. The program was initiated in response to an increase in white shark sightings along public beaches, raising concerns for lifeguards responsible for public safety. The program has successfully tagged over 300 juvenile white sharks, providing crucial data to help lifeguards better manage beaches and reduce unnecessary beach closures due to shark sightings.
The program utilizes acoustic receivers along the coastline to track tagged sharks, as well as drone technology to monitor shark activity in proximity to beachgoers. Research by the Shark Lab has shown that sharks are frequently present around people in Southern California but largely ignore them. The monitoring data provided to lifeguards allows for informed decision-making regarding beach closures in response to shark activity. Lifeguards are able to post public warnings about shark presence instead of shutting down beaches, thereby reducing the negative economic impact on local communities that results from beach closures.
The increase in great white shark numbers in California’s oceans is attributed in part to continued conservation efforts that have protected the species since 1994. With more sharks using beaches as nursery habitats and the presence of a large number of people in the water year-round in Southern California, concerns have been raised about the potential for shark attacks. Research conducted by the Shark Lab has aimed to better understand shark behavior and assess the risk of interactions between sharks and humans.
Funding for the California Shark Beach Safety Program is set to expire in June, and without additional support, the Shark Lab may be forced to shut down. The program has already stretched its initial funding to six years but is now facing a funding gap due to California’s strained state budget. Efforts are being made to secure private funding from individuals and foundations, with hopes that local tech companies in California may be willing to contribute to support the vital shark research being conducted by the Shark Lab. The loss of the program would not only impact the ability to monitor shark activity and protect beachgoers but also have economic repercussions for coastal communities in Southern California.
