“Into the Shark Zone” showcases great white shark presence in Santa Barbara County

Over the last decade, there’s been an average of 46 shark attacks per year in the U.S. and 10% of those happen in California.

Hundreds of shark sighting last year along Padaro Lane brought renowned filmmakers right here to Southern California.

After a severe drop in population in the 90’s, great white shark activity has spiked along our beaches. Many of those sightings are babies and Santa Barbara County has become their nursery.

Harry Rabin’s career has taken him to some of the most exotic locations in the world but there was so much shark activity along out coastline that he zeroed in on Santa Barbara County for his new film, “Into the Shark Zone.”

A large crowd gathered at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Thursday to screen the film with filmmakers Harry Rabin and Tom Piozet. Dr. Chris Lowe of CSULB’s Shark Lab also participated in a Q and A session.

Experts say the quantity of sharks that arrived last April and showed up again this year, drew them to our area for the film. But when the red and green tide forced the stingrays out, the baby sharks went too.

“Mainly we think they were here possibly attributed to climate change because the waters were warmer and we saw a large amount of prey fish coming into our area, mainly bat rays as well as smaller sharks, leopard sharks and we’re pretty sure that’s what attracted them here,” said Rabin.

Filmmakers say there’s only been one five-foot great white’s hanging out as of recently and these smaller sharks are not ready to attack mammals. Crews say the sharks would run away, so to speak, when they jumped in the water.

Rabin says the reason he did the film was to inform people how we can occupy our beaches and oceans together.