by Nella Nelson
Are there any sharks bigger than ‘Jaws’ off the California coast? was the question asked by a recent Desert Sun article. The answer came during an Island Packers cruise from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island is February of this year. Two basking sharks were spotted, feeding in the Santa Barbara Channel. Basking sharks can grow up to 30-plus feet, making them the world’s second largest fish, next to the whale shark at 60 feet.
As alarming as these facts may sound, shark attacks are not a major problem off the California coast, but when they happen, the killers are great whites. A report by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife documented shark attacks from 1950 – 2024. The report revealed that the most common attacks were by great whites with an occasional hammerhead. In the earlier years, the sharks attacked swimmers and free divers. In the more recent years, as paddle boards and kayaks became more popular, the attacks drew more sharks to these items. This data leads to the next question: What exactly are sharks drawn to, or repelled by, in the water?
According to a CBS news report, an Australian company developed a Rpela, a device which attaches to surfboards to emit underwater pulses to deter sharks. A Shark Banz bracelet can also be worn on the wrist or ankle. It uses magnets and never needs to be charged.
In theory, the scents that repel sharks are: eucalyptus, chili, cloves, cayenne pepper, neem, tea tree oil, citronella, and beeswax. When applied to a board, these may deter sharks. Chillax Wax is a product that combines all of these scents, though it may be more difficult to purchase as it is produced by a one-man operation in Queensland, Australia.
What if you’re already in the water and a shark is approaching you? A current CNN article suggested the following:
- Don’t panic or splash (it incites the shark’s interest).
- Maintain eye contact (sharks ambush prey from behind).
- Make yourself bigger if shark is in attack mode, smaller if it is just passing by (it won’t see you as a competitor).
- Fight back. Don’t play dead.
- If the shark gets aggressive, punch, kick and poke at sensitive spots like its eyes and gills.
- Slowly back away
To lessen your chances of encountering a shark attack:
- Avoid areas with fishing or discarded dead fish.
- Avoid dusk and dawn when attacks are most likely.
- Stay close to lifeguards.
- Don’t wear shiny objects (jewelry that flashes resemble fish).
- Yellow, white and silver or fluorescent colors attract sharks. Dark blue or black reduces the chance of attracting sharks.
In 1989, a young female’s body was found floating in the ocean near Ventura, reported the LA Times in January of that year, stating that she may have been the victim of an extremely rare shark attack while kayaking.
Stay safe in our cool Pacific waters. Have fun, yet be aware of what you can do if an imminent shark attack happens to occur.
Sources:
Jacobson, Seth & Ward, James. How Big Are the Sharks off California’s Coast? And Are the Sharks Man Eaters? Palm Springs Desert Sun. July 15, 2024. https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2024/07/15/how-many-fatal-shark-attacks-off-california-coast-have-there-been/74395087007/
Brooks, Kristopher. Can Shark Repellants Avoid Your Becoming Shark Food? CBS: Moneywatch. July 7, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/best-shark-repellent-swimmers-divers-surfers/
Brown, Forrest & Thompson, Nick. How to Survive a Shark Attack—Or Better Yet, Avoid One Entirely. CNN. July 16, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/20/travel/shark-attack-how-to-survive/index.html
California Shark Incidents (report) 1950-2024. California Department of Fish & Wildlife. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=203224&inline
NOAA Fisheries – noaa.gov. Outreach-and-Education.
