Santa Barbara Shark Sighting

Source: Santa Barbara City

At 2:30 p.m. Monday, August 27, 2012, a veteran commercial fisherman returning from a day at sea spotted a 15′ white shark near the entrance channel to Santa Barbara Harbor. The sighting was confirmed as credible. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has posted warning signs at 14 locations near City beaches, and one on each of five lifeguard towers between Leadbetter Point and East Beach. They have also personally contacted beach goers to inform them of the cautionary status. The County of Santa Barbara has also been notified. This action reflects standard protocols developed for this type of event and is warranted not only by today’s sighting, but in light of recent, confirmed white-shark sightings and attacks on marine mammals in local waters. If there are no other shark sightings or evidence of shark attacks on marine life, the signs will be removed in 72 hours (Thursday afternoon).