Published January 28, 2026
BY RUBY IRANMANESH
After the recent shark attack at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, resulting in the death of an open-water swimmer, the community has turned its attention toward the shark presence in Monterey Bay.
According to officials, the 55-year-old victim, Erica Fox, was part of an open-water swimming group called the Kelp Krawlers who were participating Dec. 21 in a regular Sunday morning group swim composed of 16 people. Members of the group claim that after they spotted the shark, all but one swimmer returned to the shore.
Fox’s body was discovered Dec. 30, and officials later confirmed she was actually wearing a shark protection band around her ankle.
Monterey Bay is home to hundreds of adult and juvenile great white sharks, the only shark species known to threaten humans. Photo by WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
According to shark expert Sean Van Sommeran from the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation in Santa Cruz, the main species known for threatening humans is the great white shark, which primarily shows up around Monterey shores during winter and spring.
“Great white sharks are big predatory fish,” says Van Sommeran. “There are a number of reasons why they would attack someone. For example, if there is a fresh kill in the water that a shark can’t find, they will orbit around the area using their nose and eyes to find it. But, if something else swims into the zone, such as a human, they will headbutt or bite.”
Marine science professor James Lindholm from California State University, Monterey Bay, emphasizes that seasonal changes in water temperature are contributing to the increase of juvenile white sharks in Monterey Bay, but he notes that a main reason why individuals are becoming more aware of shark presence is because of the increased use of social media and cameras.
“There are many factors contributing to white shark activity in California, and in Monterey specifically, including reduced fishing pressure and decades of protection provided by the state of California,” says Lindholm.
Despite this increase, Van Sommeran emphasizes that shark attacks are usually the last thing a surfer or swimmer needs to worry about, but they should still always stay cautious.
On Dec. 21, open-water swimmer Erica Fox was attacked by a great white shark during a group swim at Lover’s Point beach in Pacific Grove, just a few years after Steve Bruemmer, a member of the same swimming group, was attacked at this location. Photo by RUBY IRANMANESH
“When going in the ocean, you should be carefree, but never careless,” says Van Sommeran. “Monterey Bay has always been known for an abundance of ocean animals, including large sharks, so it’s important to be smart, swim in a group, and have a plan.”
In 2022, Steve Bruemmer, a member of the same swimming group, survived a shark attack at Lover’s Point. According to Bruemmer, he was only swimming about 150 yards from the beach until he was ambushed from below by an adult shark, which bit him, pulled him underwater and then released him.
“In my case, it bit and then let go, so I was able to swim to the surface and yell for help, and then I was rescued,” says Bruemmer. “In Erica’s case, the shark attack seems to have been similar in that it was an ambush from below.”
Fox was well known locally, and her death had a profound impact on not only the Kelp Krawlers group, but the whole Monterey Bay community.
“Erica was an incredible athlete and an ambassador of multiple brands for triathlon racing,” says CHS senior Marc Kalman-Zulik, who has swum with the group in the past. “She was a good friend of my mom, and they went on a lot of races together outside of California.”
Her death has also influenced many swimmers to start entering the water with greater caution or avoid it altogether. Some individuals claim that even though they understand that shark attacks can happen to anyone, this death was particularly frightening because Fox had a protection band, which was supposed to steer sharks away from her.
“After that attack, I definitely feel a little uneasy about going spearfishing and free diving,” says CHS junior Skyler Madsen, who regularly swims in Monterey Bay. “The shark attack brings a new air of caution, and from now on, I am always going to dive with a buddy.”
Although the attack has influenced many locals to rethink their decision to swim at beaches where sharks are commonly spotted, such as San Carlos and Lover’s Point, Bruemmer hopes that more people understand how unlikely it is to get attacked by a shark.
“[The experience] was too damaging and too powerful, so I’m not going back in [the water],” says Bruemmer. “But this decision does not make any statistical logical sense. The odds of getting bitten by a shark are unbelievably low. I looked up the odds of dying from a shark bite versus dying from the car ride to and from the beach, and stats suggest that it is probably 10 or 20 times more likely that you’re going to die in the car.”
Fox’s death has left a lasting mark on the Monterey Bay community. While experts emphasize that shark attacks are rare, locals are reminded of the risks that come with entering the ocean. For much of the community, moving forward means approaching the water with caution while continuing to respect the marine life that represents Monterey Bay.
