Beachgoers from Santa Barbara to San Diego are wary of a possible increase in shark attacks along Southern California’s coastline after a popular program to monitor shark locations could be discontinued. There is a need.
The Shark Institute at California State University, Long Beach has expressed concern that state funding will be cut by June and is actively trying to raise $7 million to keep the program afloat.
“It’s getting pretty serious,” Shark Lab Director Chris Lowe told ABC7.
“We have enough funding until June, but after that unless we get more funding, we’ll have to pull all the equipment out of the water,” Lowe said. “We will no longer be able to monitor sharks along California.”
The Shark Research Institute monitors hundreds of adult and juvenile sharks swimming along the Southern California coast.
The institute also immediately alerts lifeguards if a shark gets too close to the shoreline.
Started in 1966, Shark Lab has an impressive repertoire of receivers, buoys, and underwater monitors that allow sharks to be tracked and tagged.
The director of Shark Lab expressed disappointment that federal funding for the program would be lost and the program could be forced to close.
“Everything we learn from science is available to the public, which is unique,” Lowe said. “This is considered one of the best shark mitigation programs in the world.”
