After several great white shark sightings over the last week off the coasts of two Southern California beaches, officials issued a shark advisory Friday ahead of the busy holiday weekend.
Shark advisory signs were posted in Sunset Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach, with plans to leave them through Memorial Day.
More than a dozen great white sharks were spotted off the coast of Sunset Beach in the city of Huntington Beach May 20. Less than a week earlier, at least six sharks were sighted off the shore of Surfside in the city of Seal Beach.
"I was kind of blown away, seeing the posted signs about shark sightings," said longtime surf instructor Marcus Barrera. "It kind of put a little fear in my mind but I can't let that dictate what I want to do in the water."
Despite the advisory, beach goers would still be allowed to go in the water but were encouraged not to provoke or interfere with the sharks, according to a news release sent out by the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Huntington Beach lifeguards would work with a marine biologist to help tag the sharks and track their patterns.
The recent sightings are not unusual, according to the release.
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To report shark activity in the area call 714-536-5281.
