Coast Guard shark warning is a hoax
Statement is circulating through social media
A public notice of a shark warning in the Monmouth County area is a hoax.
The statement, circulating on social media, purports to be issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and dated June 7. It claimed shark sightings off Belmar, Spring Lake/Sea Girt and the Manasquan Inlet.
The false notice advises people to stay out of the water over the next 48-72 hours because of the “highly aggressive nature” of the encounters between the sharks and humans who purportedly saw them.
Personnel at Sector Delaware Bay of the U.S. Coast Guard — which has jurisdiction up to the Manasquan Inlet Coast Guard station — confirmed the Coast Guard did not issue the statement.
The false statement described encounters with sharks by a female kayaker, two fishermen and a male paddle boarder. It also states that the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation, which does exist in California, said one shark was a Great White.
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