SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The San Francisco area's popular Stinson Beach on the Pacific Ocean was closed Tuesday after a pair of shark sightings, officials said.
The beach will be mostly off-limits at least until Friday, though it wasn't clear what species of shark had been spotted 100-200 yards offshore independently by two people Monday, the Marin Independent Journal reported.
"If we have any more credible sightings during this time, we will extend the closure," said John Ralph, lifeguard supervisor for the National Park Service at Stinson Beach.
People will still be allowed to wade in the surf zone up to their knees, but lifeguards will stop anyone trying to go out farther.
The beach was closed for eight days around the Labor Day holiday last year after several shark sightings.
"Fall is the time that we usually do get the most shark sightings, so this is not totally unexpected," said Chris Powell, a park service spokeswoman. "We want to remind all beach users to be cautious."
While the Marin area has had 11 shark attacks in the past 82 years, none have been fatal, the newspaper said.
The local CBS affiliate reported that although the shark species had not been verified, officials noted Great White Sharks are very common in the area.
