Research Reveals Why Sharks Swim Close to the Shore

As summer approaches, shark sightings near beaches are on the rise, leading to more frequent encounters between beachgoers and these marine predators. Recent research from Padaro Beach, north of Los Angeles, sheds light on this phenomenon. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, reveals that young shark “pups” are moving into shallow waters in large numbers. This behavior is responsible for the increased sightings of great whites near the shore, coinciding with the Memorial Day Weekend kickoff to summer.

The study highlights that juvenile white sharks (JWS) select water temperatures between 16 – 22°C and depths shallower than 2 meters. They move to deeper waters during dawn and dusk, influenced by the thermal structure of the water column. The research used high-resolution temperature and acoustic telemetry data to track shark movements, showing that tagged sharks stayed above a 16°C thermal threshold, adjusting their horizontal and vertical distributions based on temperature variations.

Conducted at Padaro Beach, the study monitored a 5.5 km² area from May to December in 2020 and 2021. The findings improve our understanding of shark habitat use and distribution, emphasizing the role of water temperature and suggesting that prey distribution and competition also influence shark movements.

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