Large cluster of great whites surprises, concerns shark experts [View all]
A cluster of some 20 great white sharks was recently spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard off Pacifica and Ocean Beach, an unusually large gathering that has heightened concerns about the safety of local swimmers, wind surfers and kayakers.
The sharks — many of which were between 10 and 18 feet long — were seen swimming together last week only about 100 yards offshore.
“Amazed,” exclaimed Lt. Beau Belanger, who was piloting one of two Coast Guard helicopters flying 500 feet above the ocean on Oct. 16 when they spotted the gang.
Mary Jane Schramm, spokeswoman for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, said Belanger told her that most of the sharks were between 10 and 15 feet long and a couple of them were “really big,” about 18 feet long.
“This is the first I’d heard of near-shore aggregating in such an urban area,” said Schramm, who could not recall ever seeing so many large sharks in one place.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Large-cluster-of-great-whites-surprises-concerns-6587610.php
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