The increased presence of great white sharks poses potential risks to beachgoers, surfers, and swimmers, though shark bites remain rare in California. Wildlife officials have implemented emergency regulations to limit human-shark interactions, including restrictions on certain fishing gear to prevent accidental shark hooking. Experts emphasize that while shark sightings may rise, these apex predators generally avoid humans, recognizing them as non-prey. However, the presence of fishing lines and baited hooks could increase the likelihood of dangerous encounters. Conservation efforts have successfully boosted shark populations, but this also means larger aggregations of sharks are being observed, particularly during El Niño years.