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Channel Island Shark Warnings

Written by KEYT Assignment Desk

Story Created: Jun 30, 2010 at 1:38 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2010 at 3:44 PM PDT

National Park officials are warning swimmers at Santa Barbara Island to enter the water at their own risk, following several great white shark attacks.

No humans have encountered or been injured by the sharks, but witnesses reported seeing the sharks attacking California sea lions near the island.

Contrary to it's name, Santa Barbara Island is actually located south of the Santa Barbara Channel, and west of Los Angeles.

In a press release, park officials say there have been three confirmed attacks on the sea lions in the past few months. Those attacks happened at the Santa Barbara Island Landing Cove and at Cat Canyon, on the southeast side of the island.

The warning to the public will remain in effect until further notice.

Over the weekend, several great white sightings were reported near the Santa Barbara and Ventura coastlines. A great white pup washed ashore at Rincon Point on Monday, just days after a sea lion was attacked a mile offshore from Santa Barbara's East Beach.

Santa Barbara Island is the smallest of the California Channel Islands.
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