How a report becomes an alert

  1. An observation arrives from a named public or authorized source.
  2. The system validates required details, retains the source record, and screens for duplicates.
  3. Qualifying recent reports are measured against participating beach locations and subscriber-selected radii.
  4. Matching subscribers receive a concise text with a branded link to supporting details.

What we do not claim

Shark Alert is not a live animal tracker, emergency warning system, lifeguard service, or prediction of where an animal will travel. An observation describes a report at a point in time. Water conditions, reporting delays, animal movement, equipment, and human error all affect what is known.

For decisions at the beach

Follow lifeguards, posted closures and warnings, local government, the National Weather Service, and emergency authorities. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.