Categories: Shark

Beach Closed On Cocoa Beach Due To Sharks

BREAKING: Beach Closed Again On Cocoa Beach Due To Sharks

COCOA BEACH, Florida – Swimmers were temporarily ordered out of the water by Brevard County Ocean Rescue lifeguards along a stretch of beach in Cocoa Beach, Florida after sharks were spotted in the Atlantic Ocean near the Cocoa Beach Pier around 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

After lifeguards flew double red flags for about thirty minutes, beachgoers were once again allowed back into the water.

There has been an increase in the number of shark sightings the last few days off of Florida’s Space Coast just before Tuesday’s Full Moon.

Black tip sharks around 3-5 feet long have either been spotted or caught near-shore off of Cocoa Beach in recent weeks.

Florida has had a recent increase in unprovoked shark attacks. In 2016, the Sunshine State accounted for 60.4% of all shark attacks in the U.S. and 39.5% of the world’s total, according to the University of Florida International Shark Attack File.

How to avoid shark attacks: In addition to spotting the telltale ‘JAWS’ shark fins, fish jumping out of water or sea birds hovering at the surface of the water could indicate the presence of feeding sharks. Swim near a lifeguard area (their elevated position on a lifeguard tower is better for shark spotting) and pay attention to warning flags.