A person surfing off the north Oregon coast around Haystack Rock near Cannon Beach, and a visitor in Seaside both reported shark sightings Tuesday, July 18. State park staff have posted advisory signs in both areas. No injuries were reported. The beaches will remain open, and the advisory signs will stay up for several weeks at least.
As a natural, wild place, people coming to the Oregon coast can prepare themselves to enjoy the ocean shore by visiting http://respectthebeach.org/. For people using the ocean offshore, especially surfers, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department recommends consulting fellow surfers for advice since the agency doesn't manage the ocean shore below low tide. In an emergency, beach visitors should call 911 and explain their location in as much detail as possible. Many developed beach accesses have signs with names and numbers to help visitors pinpoint their location.
The size and species of the sightings are unknown, and the reports haven't been verified. More than a dozen shark species live off the Oregon coast.