CORONADO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Lifeguards in Coronado are on alert after spotting at least two juvenile white sharks Wednesday and Thursday.
According to lifeguards, the sharks were at least a quarter to half a mile off the coast and didn’t appear to be engaging swimmers or showing signs of aggression.
“Under existing protocol, the City was not required to close the beach or publicly report the sightings,” said City Manager Blair King.
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“However, the City feels it’s important for the community to know that it takes these types of sightings seriously and is carefully monitoring the waters off Coronado. We also are working with Chris Lowe at the Shark Lab to find out more about the separate sightings and what might be going on.”
Around 4 p.m. Thursday, a San Diego Fire-Rescue helicopter was called in and confirmed at least two four to five foot-long white sharks off the coast.
The city says a lifeguard followed the sharks as they made their way to Point Loma.
The city plans to try to tag or take DNA from the sharks over the weekend. According to city officials, it’s not uncommon to see juvenile white sharks offshore.
“The shark population is rising and sightings are becoming more commonplace,” the city said in a news release.
