January 1, SoCal Beach Alert – Shark Threat Rises Amid Cuts

Beachgoers in Southern California, from Santa Barbara to San Diego, should be cautious of an increased risk of shark attacks this summer. This warning comes as the renowned Shark Lab at California State University at Long Beach faces potential cuts to its state funding by June.

The Shark Lab, which tracks the location of sharks along the Southern California coastline, is actively trying to raise $7 million to keep its programs running. “It’s getting pretty serious,” Shark Lab Director Chris Lowe told ABC7.

“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 the equipment out of the water,” Lowe said. “We won’t be able to monitor sharks along California anymore.”

The Shark Lab, founded in 1966, uses receivers, buoys, and underwater monitors to track and tag hundreds of adult and juvenile sharks swimming along the coast. It also provides an instant warning to lifeguards if a shark comes too close to the shoreline.

Lowe expressed disappointment over the potential loss of federal funding, which may result in the program closing its doors. “Everything that we learned from our science gets out to the public, and this is unique,” Lowe said. “It’s considered one of the best shark mitigation programs in the world.”

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