Leopard Shark

June 1, 2023

Question: I heard about a leopard shark sighting in Oakland’s Lake Merritt. Is that unusual?

Answer: No, it is not unusual. Lake Merritt connects to the San Francisco Bay via a channel and the Oakland Estuary. Marine species regularly travel into the “lake,” which is technically a tidal lagoon. Leopard sharks live in shallow waters of bays and estuaries and nearshore in both kelp forest and sandy environments. They are abundant along sandy beaches of Southern and central California. During the fall, large numbers may be found in San Francisco and Monterey bays.

If you’re interested in marine species, consider subscribing to CDFW’s Marine Region News Service at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/Marine/News/Subscribe. Subscribers receive news and blog posts about fishing regulation changes, interesting fish and invertebrates, ocean monitoring, species management, research and more. You can also learn about leopard sharks and other California fish and invertebrates on CDFW’s Marine Species Portal at https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/.